Kicking Among Peers

One of the most relaxing, therapeutic activities a kicker can do is get out on an empty field in the summer to challenge himself on a set of kicks for the session.

You just can’t beat the experience of facing a pair of field goal posts in late summer, the chance to set a new goal for yourself…maybe it’s 10 for 10 inside 40 yards, hit one from 55 yards today, it’s your call!

The goals are generally simple and personal, but setting session goals are a must for a private kicking session.  Let’s face it, as a kicker in training, we all seem to have lots of solitary hours crafting our skill.

This is even true during the season, when coaches are yelling, whistles are blowing, helmets are clashing and horns are signalling a change of practice period.  More often than not, in the midst of all this, a coach looks your way and simply says ‘go kick’.

So, like in the off season, the field goal kicker or punter is left alone to ‘go kick’.

If you’ve never kicked ‘with’ someone (a competitor, friend, etc), you can often wonder how you are doing compared with your peers.  Sometimes it can be helpful to feed off each other, help each other grow with tips or tricks each has learned along the way.

Probably the single biggest advantage a kicker has when kicking in an around other kickers is intensity.  Kicking alone can get repetitive.  Kickers can sometimes fall into ‘auto-pilot’ mode where they are just ‘going through the motions’ to pass the time.  I’ve been there, I can relate.

I didn’t keep my head down, I’m tired, no one is watching any way, etc.  Not so when kicking among peers!  There is a natural drive, call it competition or just the will to do our best when others are watching.

Whatever the case, it’s good to kick among peers whether it’s in kicking camps, a small group kicking clinic or just with a friend or roster mate on your team.  It keeps us sharp, helps us to kick ‘on our best behavior’.

So, mix it up a little bit.  Ask a buddy to go kick with you next time you decide to head for the training field.  Join a kicking clinic group in your area, just expose your self to kicking under pressure and among peers….it will do wonders to help you grow over time!