Off-season Technique Improvements

Congratulations!  You are almost there…the end of the 2013 fall football season.  Here in late October, that means that your season might already be over, or you could be closing shop soon with your team.

Either way, it’s a chance to get better soon…a chance to prepare for more strength and consistency as a kicking specialist.  One quick warning though.  This is not the time to hibernate (there are no summer kicking camps) through the winter!

I know it’s been football and more football since summer, but spring ball will be here before you know it.  Within 6 short months you’ll be on the doorstep of 2014 summer camp preparations!

It may seem like a life time away, but use this off season wisely to improve your kicking or punting skills.   If you work with a kicking/punting coach or take private kicking  lessons,  get that process going sooner than later.

If you have local clinics you can attend, now is the time to start working on technique changes that will take your kicking or punting to the next level.

Why start so soon after the season?  You’ll need time to create the process known as ‘muscle memory’.  You practice a new techniques over and over until they are burned in your brain so to speak.

In other words, we’d rather you practice than to not practice, but we’d rather you practice the right way versus just kicking to kick if that makes sense.

Looking back on my high school kicking days, I took lots of time off after the season.  I didn’t want to think about kicking until early March in some cases….that’s a big mistake these days unfortunately.

For you older high school kickers and punters especially, kicking (like so many other sports skills) has become a full time calendar event.

We don’t want you to get burnt out of course (and if you are feeling THAT way, take a break for sure).

However, if you love to kick or punt and would like to take your skills to the next level post high school ball, the best of your competition is going to be strong and consistent with LOTS of practice hours under the belt.

If you live up north and it’s too cold to kick outside (I’ve kicked in the snow at Lambeau Field when I was the kicker for the Vikings by the way…I feel your pain), then take time each week to focus on things you can improve without standing in the snow outside!!

Work indoors on your steps for instance if you are a kicker, work on your drop if you are a punter.  How consistent are they?

By consistent, I mean, can you hit your mark to the inch when you step back from the kick spot?  How about when you step to the side?  You can always create a ‘Scott’s Triangle’ and practice in your basement, garage, bedroom, etc.

Are your steps to long or too wide?  How is your approach, is it balanced?  Are you keeping that heel down at impact, pointing the toe on follow through?  How is your finish, is it consistent and balanced as well?

If you are a punter, how consistent is your drop right now?  Should you adjust your hand position in any way to fit your personal style?  Are you dropping the ball inside or outside your swing path?

Are you doing anything to improve your leg strength?  How about your flexibility?

If you don’t know what I’m talking about, take the time to learn this winter, join this site for video based training!

We can demystify the process for you, but this is the time to train your brain…right now.  Don’t wait until a month or two before summer camp begins to figure it all out!

Later this week, I’ll get into some specifics about these topics.  For now, keep your head down and get ready for a great off season…it’s time to get better for next year!!