In the video below, "Kick It" owner and kicking coach John Zima shows you some good early season punting and kicking drills to do to get a good start. These drills should be used year-round to keep your specialists sharp.
Coach Zima's presentation "Training Your Specialists 365" can be seen in its entirety on Glazier Drive.
Below the video, a few of our takeaway notes are listed.
Kicking and Punting are games of physics. Mass x velocity = momentum.
To improve mass and velocity, punters and kickers need to work on:
- Explosive power
- Flexibility
- Core strength
- Goal is to add 1 - 3 pounds per month
- Developing and enhancing technique with drills and video review/corrections.
Field Goal Key Technique Objectives:
- On the ground, off the block ASAP
- Develop and maintain setup routine
- Approach to the kick - jab step
- Contact on the sweet spot of the ball
- Left arm 9:00 to 2:00
- Swing to belt line, toe to target
- Skip through - all momentum to carry forward
- Leave the chin behind, listen for the crowd
Punting Key Technique Objectives:
- Flexibility of punting motion
- Two step punter
- Catch out front
- Drop is initiated at the belt line
- Drop arm positioned on hip
- Recoil height - heel to butt
- Pendulum swing
- Finish over right eye - above the head - "knee must hit you in the nose."
- Explode off the left foot
