How to Kick a Football

In football, a kicker is never known until he is called upon. He is a person who can either be the hero or the goat, and in one moment can change a game or season. Kicking a football is an art and being a kicker is a mindset. This is a task that requires determination and a physical and mental commitment that is different then all other players.

Steps

1. Develop your steps to the ball. The first aspect of kicking a football is a kicker's stepping pattern. The stepping pattern is the number of steps that a kicker takes from the ball. These steps should be consistent and never change under any circumstance. The angle away from the ball, on the other hand, should be taken into consideration when a kicker takes his steps. There are two types of stepping patterns that a kicker can choose; they can either be a three-step kicker or a two-step kicker.
* The two-step pattern is preferred by coaches because there is less distance between the kicker and the ball, creating less of a chance of the ball getting blocked. The three-step approach provides more power as a result of the forward movement of the body to the ball. It also provides greater balance at the approach to the ball. The three-step approach compensates for a bad snap and enables a kicker to start-stop-restart their stride and still maintain balance. The three-step approach is also the approach used by most college and professional kickers.
* In a two-stepping pattern your first step is a balance step. The step is a quick and precise step inside of your body to set up your drive/plant step. This first step is for a kicker to maintain their body control, and set up their arms and body for the drive into the ball. Take this step about halfway to the ball and in a direct line to a your plant spot. The second step in a two-step kicker is the drive plant step. It is the step that sets up the kick. The step should be directly to the plant foot location. This plant foot location is about a foot away from the ball, with the center of the your foot aligned with the football. The plant leg is the no kicking leg and the positioning of the foot is a major factor in where the football will travel. Some consider the plant step the most important step for a field goal kicker, as it is the step that sets up the kick.
* In a three-step kicker, very little changes accept for the addition of the first step. The first step, however, is not a step but rather a jab. It is a step that sets up a kicker for his direct line to the ball, and allows for kicker to react to bad snaps and holds. The first step or jab step for a three-step kicker is towards the plant position rather than the ball, which then promotes setting up swing lanes to kick in the direction of the target. The jab step set up the second step and drive step and keeps a kicker in a direct consistent line to the ball.

2. Develop your leg swing and kick itself. After arriving at the ball with a correct plant and stepping motion, a free flowing controlled leg swing is necessary. Many young kickers believe that they need to over kick the ball by throwing their entire body into their swing to get distance, but this is entirely untrue. Like in golf, a kicking swing is all about form and control. The swing should have three main components and should allow a smooth follow through that carries the kicker through the ball. The three steps are legcock, leg lock, and follow through.
* The legcock is when a kicker loads his legs or get ready to kick. The legcock should not be uncomfortable.
* The leg lock is the point at which the kicker hits the ball. The lock should be attained through a straight leg upon contact, with the kicker’s foot, planter-flexed, and extending through the ball.
* This leads to the follow through. A kicker should bring the arm opposite their kicker foot across his body to counterbalance the leg swing and allow their leg a clean swing lane to come up through the ball. The kicker's head should stay down on the ball and allow the momentum of their leg swing to carry their body through the kick. This will lead to a successful kick that is on a straight and true line.

3. Develop the mental aspects of kicking. Kickers are in a very vulnerable position in football. They rarely get any recognition until the game is on the line and the team needs the ball to sail through the uprights for a victory.
* Kickers are sometimes seen as not part of the team. To be a good kicker, you must put these prejudices aside. Participate in the team's conditioning and lifting activities and become an athlete as it will make you a better kicker. You should never allow yourself to become secluded as you will need your teammates' support to be successful in games.
* Build a good relationship with your holder and snapper and step on the field knowing they will make the kick.
* Follow a routine. Keep your steps the same, your hands the same, and your rhythm and timing the same. By keeping your routine constant, it will set up a successful kick and bring confidence.
* Control your emotions after the kick. If you make a kick, you should celebrate and enjoy the field goal like a running back would enjoy a touchdown, but it needs to be cleared from your head quickly after the celebration. Kickers needs to get made field goals out their system as quickly as missed kicks. When you let the made kicks linger in your mentality, you're more likely to let the misses linger too, and affect your future performance negatively.

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