Special Teams: Placekicking for Centers (continued)

Once in position, you'll want to reach out and make sure the laces of the ball are rotated to the outside of your snapping hand. The laces should be rotated down so that they are just past the center point.

You want to grip the ball as you would if you were a QB preparing to throw a forward pass. Without a proper grip, you will find you don't have the accuracy or velocity you need for a successful snap.

Keep -

1. Three out of four fingers of the snapping hand on or over the laces of the ball
2. Your index finger near the tip of the ball - off the laces and across the seam
3. Your middle and third finger across the laces. The fingertips should be on the surface of the ball, not the laces.
4. The little finger on the laces of the ball
5. The most pressure between the ball and passing hand just in front of the center point on the front of the ball

Your grip may need tweaks based on the size of your hand.

At this point, your other hand should be placed on top of the ball and you should be prepared to snap it. Look back through your legs to the holder. His hands are always your target. When both of his hands are extended and ready, you know he is prepared for the snap.

As you snap the ball, follow-through with both hands. The fingers of both hands should end up pointing directly at the holder's hands. On a good follow-through, you'll feel your body shift slightly back toward the holder and kicker.