Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Special Teams - Punter - Setting Up the Drop

Now that you've learned to properly secure and hold the ball, you're ready to proceed with the hand, arm, and drop action of the kick. When first learning these techniques it is best if you do not actually kick the ball. Without the actual kick you will be able to go through these movements a number of times in rapid succession.

Begin the drill with the ball held properly in both hands. You will not be stepping with your feet during this drill. The actual kicking movement starts with the removal of your hand away from your kicking foot.

This hand and arm should be allowed to swing back to the outside at waist height and serve as a balance for your kick. As the hand swings back:

1. Your hips should turn slightly to the inside in the direction of your arm swing
2. Your opposite shoulder should rotate slightly forward
3. Your ball hand and arm should be easily extended in front of your body

As the ball is extended in your drop hand, the hand on the side of your kicking foot, the following should be true:

1. The point of the ball should be rotated slightly to the inside and aimed in the same direction as your hips
2. The wrist of your drop hand should be locked
3. The ball should be level and pointing neither up nor down
4. The drop hand should be just above waist-height

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Special Teams - Punters & Ballhandling

As a punter, its obvious that your job is to help secure field position for your team with well-placed punts. Often overlooked when it comes to the position is the importance of proper, secure ballhandling to make sure that a punt doesn't turn into a loss of yards AND a turnover or worse - six points the other way!

Even if sloppy ball management doesn't result in giving the ball away, proper technique helps your punt yardage and placement significantly.

Start with the laces of the ball straight up. The placement of the ball into the hand on the side of your kicking leg is most important.

1. The back tip of the ball should make contact with the palm of your hand
2. The tip should be located midway between your thumb and forefinger
3. Your thumb should be on the inside top panel of the ball
4. Your forefinger and your second finger should be on the outside top panel of the football
5. Your remaining two fingers - ring and little - will be placed on the outside bottom panel of the ball
6. The pressure from your thumbs and fingers of your drop hand should allow you to hold the ball comfortably and securely

Your other hand should be in a position on the front inside of the ball with your four fingers on the inside under panel and your thumb on the top inside panel just above the side seam.

One thing to remember is that you want to grasp the ball with as little pressure as is necessary. Holding the ball with a grip that is too tight will adversely affect the way the ball is dropped to your foot.

Friday, November 8, 2013

Special Teams - Receiving the Snap as a Punter

After assuming the proper stance, you should extend the hand and arm on the side of your kicking foot directly out in front of your shoulder. Move your arm so that your hand is near the center of your body. Next, turn the palm of your hand over so that it's facing the ground. This position sets the top part of the target for the center.

With your other hand and arm, reach out at a level even with the middle of your stomach. The palm of this hand should be facing up. This is the bottom half of the center's snapping target.

When you feel you are ready to receive the ball and that the center has seen the target you've presented, move your top hand down so that it is even with your bottom hand. At the point, the palms of both hands should be up and the little fingers should nearly be making contact.

To guarantee you see your hands and the ball when the latter is snapped, it's necessary to have your arms extended out away from your body. For now, we'll keep the ball out of your practice sessions. Without the ball, start with your normal steps. Both hands should remain in position with your first step. As you begin your second step:

1. The hand away from your kicking foot should drop off
2. This hand should swing behind your hip
3. At the same time, the hand on the side of the kicking foot should be pushed forward
4. This hand should be positioned slightly outside of the thigh of the kicking leg
5. Allow the extended hand to drop naturally to your side as the kicking leg comes through in a practiced kicking motion