How to Placekick in Football

It looks like it's the easiest job in football. The center snaps the ball seven yards back. The holder catches and places the ball down with the laces facing the goalpost. Then the kicker takes a 3-step approach and kicks the ball through the goalposts. The placekicker's job looks easy--but it is anything but that. Kicking a football for distance and for height is a difficult task made even more complicated when the opposition is coming after the kick to try and block it. Kickers rarely get much respect around the locker room and are not always beloved by the fans, but when a field goal is needed in the final moments, a kicker becomes a hero when he comes through in the clutch.

Instructions

1. Stretch out your leg. Think of the placekick as similar to a golf swing. There's a backswing, a downswing and a follow through. In order to maximize your range, you have to stretch out your leg so you can bring your leg forward with decent speed and then follow through upon impact. Without an excellent range of motion, a placekicker will have a difficult time getting the ball to travel more than 30 yards. Stretching ahead of time will give the kicker a chance to get the kind of range of motion needed.

2. Plot out your approach to the ball. Take less than two steps and you won't be able to manufacture the power to send the ball more than 20-25 yards. Take more than three steps and you give your opponent a great chance to block that kick. The field goal or extra point attempt is a precise play which require excellent timing between the center, holder and kicker.

3. Hit the ball with the instep of your foot about 8 inches from the ground. Nearly all kicker approach the ball from an angle in order to get maximum power and height. This style of kicking--known as soccer-style--was introduced to American football by a pair of soccer playing brothers in the 1960s. Charlie (Washington Redskins) and Pete Gogolak (Buffalo Bills and New York Giants) both made it to the NFL and it was clear that the mechanics they brought to the game were far more effective than those used by straight-ahead kickers. That style disappeared from view in the 1980s because soccer-style kickers produced more distance, height and accuracy.

4. Practice your craft every day. You can do it with two teammates (the snapper and holder) or just yourself with a tee. Practicing with the snapper and holder will help your timing but doing it by yourself will help with your technique. The key to kicking well is consistency. Always start three steps away from the ball. Always put your plant (non-kicking) foot in the same exact spot. Always hit the ball about eight inches up and always follow through. Do not pick your head up until the ball is well on its way. Picking your head up before the ball has started its journey will ensure that you mishit the ball and miss the kick.

5. Laugh off your teammates shots and jokes. The kicker has to be able to take a lot of abuse from his teammates without cracking. Players who are working hard and taking a ton of physical abuse in games and practice build up a resentment to a kicker who almost never has to endure serious contact. Some teammates will kid harshly with you while others won't like you. However, if you can do your job well they will all respect you.

Tips & Warnings

• Consistency in approach is the key to becoming a successful placekicker. Try to practice every day and make sure your snapper and holder participate in timing drills with you at least twice a week prior to your game.

• It's all about timing. Don't rush your kick but don't go too slowly either. The more you practice, the more consistent your approach will be.

• Lift weights to get stronger. Do lower-body and upper-body work in order to add distance to your kicks.