How to Punt a Football

By eHow Sports & Fitness Editor

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You may have to give up the ball, but you can make it a lot tougher for the other team to get it to your end zone.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Step1
Stand 15 yards behind the line of scrimmage.
Step2
Catch the ball when the center snaps it to you.
Step3
Hold the ball out in front of you, with the laces pointing up.
Step4
Take two steps forward, beginning with your kicking foot.
Step5
Drop the ball toward your kicking foot, and kick the ball with the top of your foot.

Comments

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vinnie said

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on 7/25/2007 Just go to the Precision Kickers and Punters website. You'll learn all you need to know about kicking and punting. These are full time, professional instructors. They teach the best of the best. www.precisionkickersandpunters.com

Anonymous

Anonymous said

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on 7/21/2006 We play rugby league, but the method is the same:

You must connect with the center of the ball to maximize ball compression (the sweet spot). Use at least the half way point in the kicking motion, to maximize distance, and follow through.

Anonymous

Anonymous said

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on 6/30/2006 Control the drop on the ball and explode your kicking foot toward the ball. Remember to follow through and keep your head down. This will enable the ball to be more accurate.

Anonymous

Anonymous said

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on 2/14/2006 Punting is like golf, you don't have to be strong to do it well. The key is the contact between your foot and the ball. 10% of the contact is your foot: Keep your toes pointed down field and extend your leg so that it's straight when you kick. 90% of the contact is in the drop. You want to ball to fall perfectly parallel to the ground, so that when your foot hits the ball, it gets maximum amount of ball (and it will hurt less than hitting the point of the ball). You will have to determine how to point the ball yourself - be it down field or slightly to the side - as that's a personal preference for each punter. Be sure to drop the ball with your arm fully extended in stride, as this will give your leg even more reason to extend itself fully. It can't be stressed enough how important it is to get the ball to fall correctly. Practice dropping the ball all the time, and as your drop gets better, punting will become a lot easier.

Anonymous

Anonymous said

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on 11/22/2005 To punt a football, you must first be comfortable with your steps and drops. Before you even attempt to punt the football, walk a straight line and drop the football. If you do this correctly, the football should bounce back to you. Do not throw the ball into the air, simply release the ball. You must give yourself a chance to kick the ball, so be sure not to throw the ball. Once you get your drops down, take the ball and begin practicing your steps. Put your kicking foot back, and when the long snapper snaps the football to you, step with your kicking foot, then plant your kicking foot and drive upward. Now, you should have your drops and plant steps down. After you have mastered this, you may now attempt to punt the football. Remember to stretch very well. To start off, punt for accuracy, not distance. Everything relies on your form. Once you are warm, you may now begin to punt the football. When you actually punt the football, remember to keep the ball on the outside hip of your kicking foot. This will insure a straight kick. Push the ball outward, and kick straight upward through the ball. Be sure not to side-swipe the ball like a soccer player. In football, we kick straight upward through the ball. Also, be sure to keep your head down, and focused on the football. Do not worry about immediately looking up to see where the ball goes, as this will cause you to punt poorly. Also, remember to explode upward through the ball and follow through to get the maximum boom on your punts. So, to summarize everything, remember, put your kicking foot back, receive the ball, step with your kicking foot, then plant your non-kicking foot and punt the ball. When you are punting the ball, be sure to keep the football on the outside of your kicking foot, and "drop" the ball. When you are holding the ball, cup your writing hand over the end of the football, and use your non-writing hand to guide the football forward. Drop the ball and explode upward through it. Remember, keep your toe down, and go straight through the ball. Now you know a simple technique for punting, and you can go and try it yourself. Remember, practice makes perfect, and form is everything. Good luck!

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eHow Article:  How to Punt a Football

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