The January Effect

Depending on where you live, January can be a challenge for kicking a football.  Down south, some winter days can be near spring like. However, up north the practice field can be covered in snow!

Productive Kicking In January?

One thing we all share no matter where we might live as kickers is that we get a chance to wipe the slate clean and set a target out in the distant future…next football season!

It’s a chance for the absolute beginner to dream a bit about working hard to compete for a spot on an actual roster.

It’s a time for more experienced roster kickers to reflect on a long season and set goals for better things to come next year.

Yes, January is the training month that is full of promise, and with so many pressure free months to prepare it feels like time is on your side to put all the field goal kicking tips to the test.

Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that you have forever and a day to learn and grow your kicking skills though. I promise you that before long, ‘forever’ will be a distant memory. It will feel like the only time left to improve is about ‘a day’.

Make sure you take the time to put an off-season plan together NOW. If you are not sure what you need to be working on, at least get out and kick; it’s better than nothing.  Ideally, I’d like to see you with a pulse on what your strengths and weaknesses are to know what needs to be corrected/improved in these months before spring ball starts up again.

Are you consistently kicking wide right the majority of your misses in a set? Are you missing wide left? How is the rotation on your ball? You SHOULD know your tendencies, but if you don’t, start recording them!

How you say? We have a number of worksheets to help if you join the FGK membership site team.

Otherwise, write each session down or make a note on your phone if you have something like an iPhone or Android with a memo type app.  The bottom line is, you simply can not know what type of workout YOU need to construct for yourself if you don’t know how to evaluate your kicking today.

It may be that you need to change your angle to the ball to allow more or less room for your hips based on your body type and/or flexibility.  My point is, January in all its misery, is a wonderful time to set goals for yourself as a field goal kicker.

Warmer weather, kicking clinics, kicking camps, they are all right around the corner too!

Make the most of the month and HAPPY KICKING!