Field Goal Kicking Technique

Field Goal Kicking TechniqueWhat better way to kick it off (pun totally intended) than to discuss field goal kicking technique? (side bar: If you read our blogs regularly, you may find some similarities in one of our more recent posts, “How To Kick A Football,” but I wanted to start of this series with technique.)

Kicking a football is very much like a golf swing. If you watch professional golfers, each golfer’s swing looks a little different than his competitors. The same thing applies to field goal kicking technique. You will see, however, that some techniques tend to be more common than others. We understand that everyone is different, so we teach the fundamentals…the rest of the kick is up to your comfort-ability and personality.

Compare The Scotts

Coach Scott Blair KickingCoach Scott SissonJust look at myself versus Scott Sisson. If you look at us kick side by side, our routine, steps, approach distance, and follow through all are different….

BUT you will also notice at the core of our kicks we are very much alike. We take consistent-sized steps back from the ball, make sure we are lined up with our target, take our steps 90°’s to the side, have a balanced approach, keep our eye on the ball, and follow through downfield to the target.

All of that to say, the fundamentals of the kick are the same, but to the naked eye it appears we have a different field goal kicking technique.

Kickers Are Mental

I will even share my biggest secret with you, shhh…  Football Kicking Holder: ColossusOnce you can kick a football, field goal kicking technique is more mental than anything physical. I would venture to say that 60% to 70% of kicking a football is mental.

So instead of beating your body up by trying to kick long field goals, really focus on each kick and replicating correct fundamentals.

Challenge yourself EVERY DAY with your workouts.  Don’t just go through the motions.

For instance, most kickers will show up on a field, by themselves many times, and just kick until they start missing due to ‘tired leg’.  Stop!

This is the worst thing we can do.  We need accountability each and every kicking session.  That is, we need to get our head in the game.

The only way to do that is to treat each kick like it’s to win the championship game.

My favorite way to workout is to chart, but more on that later

So what are the fundamentals of correct field goal kicking technique?

The fundamentals really consist of:

  • Consistent Contact
  • Lining up to your target the same way each time
  • Balance throughout your kick
  • Being on the correct swing path from backswing to follow through
  • Taking the same steps every time (to the inch)
  • Consistency mentally and physically.

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