Placekicking
 

Each phase of your special teams will have players who are required to perform special skills in order for that phase of the kicking game to be successful. When attempting to kick a point-after touchdown or field goal, there are three players who have this responsibility: the center who is the short snapper, the holder, and the kicker.

These three players must work as one smooth unit in order for the kicker to have success. Position yourself so that you can observe the center snap, see the catch and placement by the holder, and watch the entire kicking motion of the kicker.

THE CENTER

GRIPPING THE BALL - teach your short snappers the same grip that your quarterback uses on the ball when throwing a forward pass.

• Grip the ball near the center with the 1st finger near the tip of the ball off the laces.
• Place the 2nd and 3rd fingers over the laces on the surface of the ball with the little fingers on the laces.
• Have the thumb on the top panel in between the 1st and 2nd finger.

You can line the players up in pairs, seven yards away from one another, holding the ball over their head with both hands and then throwing it to their partner. This drill can be used when your short snappers are warming up for PAT or FG practice.

Once the player has a proper grip, you can have him line up in his stance, place the ball on the ground in front of him, and then have him reach out and grip the ball.

• Place the snapping hand under and outside of the ball.
• Place the guiding hand lightly on top of the ball with the hand open and fingers spread.
• Keep the most pressure just in front of the center of the ball.

SHORT-SNAP STANCE - with the ball placed on the ground, have the center move up and get into a stance to make the snap to the holder. When the player is in the stance, check that he:

• Has his feet even and slightly wider than his hips.
• Bends at the knees.
• Keeps his back level and shoulders and hips even.
• Has his shoulders square.
• Keeps the ball slightly in front of his helmet.
• Has the laces of the ball rotated down and outside of his snapping hand.
• Places his snapping hand under the ball.
• Rests the guiding hand lightly on top of the ball.
• Keeps the ball level for the snap.

MAKING THE SHORT SNAP - once the center is in a good stance and has a proper grip on the ball he should:

• Look back through his legs to the hands of the holder and determine that the kicker and holder are ready to receive the snap.
• Make the snap with both hands on the ball.
• Thrust both arms back through the legs toward the holder.
• Follow through with both hands directly at the holder's hands.
• Allow the palms of both hands to rotate out.
• Brace himself for the opponent's rush.

THE HOLDER

The instant the ball leaves the center's hands, the holder is the next specialist who must perform. The holder has the responsibility to:

• Make certain that the kicker is ready to kick.
• Signal the center that that the snap can be made.
• Catch the snap.
• Place the ball on the tee and position it correctly for the kick.

Try to have your holder be a player who is calm, has good hands, and is comfortable handling the ball. This player can play any position on the team, although the holder is often a wide receiver or quarterback.

STANCE - once you have selected your holder, you can have him:

• Line up on the opposite side of the tee from the kicker.
• Kneel down with his back knee seven yards from the center.
• Position his front foot with the toe pointing directly at the goal post.
• Lean forward to the center.
• Place the fingers of his back hand on the center of kicking tee.
• Extend his front arm and hand directly at the center.
• Keep his palm facing down for top part of target for center.

HANDLING THE BALL - once the holder is in this position, he should turn back and look at the kicker and:

• Ask the kicker if he is ready.
• Bring his hand off the tee, palm up.
• Allow the thumbs of his hands to touch and form a target area for the center snap.

The holder has now alerted the center that the kicker is ready and that he is ready to receive the snap and will:

• Be prepared to react for any off-target snap.
• Be ready to make the catch in both hands.
• Use one motion to put the tip of the ball on the tee.
• Try to have the laces pointing directly at the goal post.
• Rotate the ball with the fingers of his front hand if the laces are not in the correct position.
• Place the index finger of his back hand on the top point of the ball.
• Adjust the lean and balance the ball in the correct position for the kicker.

KICKER

The kicker's primary responsibility is making the kick. He needs to focus on only that job. Many players will think that they can kick, but you will need to carefully watch any players trying out, to determine leg strength, accuracy and finally how they kick under pressure.

ALIGNMENT AND STANCE - In the beginning, lining up a kicker and aligning him properly will require a great deal of attention. Once you have selected one or two players to do your kicking, they should have this phase of the kick become automatic. Coach the kicker to:

• Start with the instep of the plant foot even with the kicking tee.
• Place the kicking foot directly behind tee.
• Begin with the kicking foot and take three normal steps straight back from the tee.
• Take two steps sideways at a right angle with his plant foot.
• Turn slightly and face the holder and the tee.
• Have his kicking foot behind his plant foot.
• Lean forward and keep his shoulders in front of his hips.
• Allow his arms to hang down in a relaxed manner.
• Keep his head up with eyes focused on the tee.

Now the kicker is in position and is ready to move forward toward the tee and make the kick, once the ball is snapped. With good timing, the kicker should be starting forward as the ball is snapped to the holder. In the beginning, the kicker may have to hesitate until the holder becomes proficient at making the catch and placing the ball on the tee in the proper position. Hopefully this hesitation can be eliminated with practice.

STEPS - From his pre-snap stance as the kicker sees the snap, he should:

• Start to move with a normal forward step with his kicking foot.
• Take a second longer step with his plant foot.
• Bring his plant foot down even with and six inches outside the tee.
• The toe of his plant foot should be aimed directly at the center of the goal post.

The instant his plant foot makes contact outside the tee, the kicker should be in position to successfully make the kick.

MAKING THE KICK - to complete his kick the kicker should:

Move his hips forward to generate power for the kick. Allow his kicking leg to move in a full arch. Keep his toe pointed down and ankle locked on the kicking foot. Have the toe of his kicking foot move to the opposite side of the tee. Allow the center of the inside of his kicking foot to pass over the tee. Make contact with the ball with the top inside of his kicking foot. Keep the entire body moving toward the goal post. Maintain a forward lean with his shoulders in front of his feet. Widen his arms to help have good balance. Keep his head down, and both eyes on the ball. Allow the kicking leg to follow through, lifting him off the ground

During a game it will be essential that all three players work as one coordinated unit. You may find time during practice when all three players are not available. During these instances, you can have the center and holder practice together or have the holder and kicker practice together or you can work on only the techniques of one player of the group. Try to have all three players work together as one unit at some time during every practice.