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By: Paul Woodside - www.beforeukick.com Kicking on a high school level should never exist. First of all, what does that mean to kick on a high school level? Should kickers never make more than 52% of their field goals and 78% of their extra points? Should they only be able to kick the ball off to the 10 yard line? Should they be forced to play another position because their coach doesn't want them standing around? Should they only have 'team time' the day before the game to do a Special Teams walk through? What we're talking about here is standards. Sound coaching should always recognize the kicking aspect as equally valuable to the game. Through this article I will briefly examine: the coaching of a kicker, the instruction for the kicker, and lastly the athlete as the kicker. What is meant by the coaching of a kicker? How do you coach a kicker? There must be the understanding that before he, or she, is a kicker they're an athlete. Coaching any athlete involves casting a vision for the athlete, sound instruction for the athlete's skill refinement (we will examine that shortly), and challenging the athlete to perform at a high standard. What I have witnessed during my 20 years as a high school kicking coach is that many high school head coaches are simply at a loss when it comes to coaching kickers and punters. Treating kickers as inferior athletes or degrading their skill set, the coaches believe that's how best to motivate them to perform at a higher level. In fact, on many teams the kicker has no choice but to play another field position. Ignorance is not bliss and in fact can take away a great team asset in a sound kicker or punter. Coaching a kicker requires the same two components the kicker must possess in order to be successful, competence and confidence (preparation and application). What is the purpose of instruction for a kicker? How do you coach a kicker for their refinement? I have been fortunate to have known and worked with Coach Bill Renner throughout my coaching career. There were a few sound kicking coaches scattered throughout the country, but by in large none existed on the high school level. The rule of thought was to send a kicker to kicking camp (which presented an entirely new set of concerns which I am unable to address in this article) and have them learn the craft then coach themselves. As long as they looked busy, the head coach would be satisfied. Some of the problems that existed for the kicker were that they kicked too much (thus causing fatigue and injury), they could not fix their problems because there was no constructive feedback (video or a knowledgeable source), and as long as the ball went through the uprights the head coach was happy (regardless of what the ball flight looked like). Bill Renner (www.billrennerfootball.com) is the father of quantitative and quantifiable kicking and punting instruction. The foundation that he set through his book Kicking the Football finally brought structure and order to all the hollow kicking philosophies that were, and remain, so prevalent. While this article will not permit in detail with the how-to's of kicking, I will state that no more should any facet of the training, the kicking, and result of the kick be left to chance. Every athlete is judged on the feedback that their performance gives. With kicking, whether it's a field goal or a kickoff, what the ball does in the air determines what feedback the kicker will receive from the referee, the coaching staff, and the fans in the stands. The problem with external feedback is that their focus is on the effect side and not the cause side of the equation. Because the kicker should know that the ball flight is a direct result of where it's struck and what position the body was in at impact, then that's where the kicker's focus should be applied to. The process, when sequentially and properly broken down, becomes the conduit to the kicker's successful ball strike and ball flight. To reiterate this point to the athlete and make sure they are paying attention I always use the Amish horse and buggy analogy. I will ask if they've ever seen one going down a highway. Then, I will ask if they saw the cart pulling the horse. After, by their impatience, they acknowledge they have they shortly thereafter find themselves doing push-ups (through my 15 years of using that on well over a 1,000 athletes only 1 has ever answered correctly). Impatience (lack of focus and concentration) with the process only leads to results that are less than what they should be. Finally, Shaun Suisham's 52 yard field goal attempt in the 3rd quarter of Super Bowl XLV showed that by miss hitting the ball by 2 inches caused the kick to go nearly 15 yards wide to the left. Lastly, what is required for a kicker's success? The kicker must be an athlete. You will never have ownership of a skill if you do not have ownership over your own mind and body. As the coach sets goals for the team as a means of harnessing and unleashing their potential at the same time, such should be the same for the kicker. After all, that is why it is called a field goal. Their ultimate goal should be to be successful on any field at any time under any conditions. Then, they should have a specific goal for each kick. Let me explain, the kick is made on the sidelines (in their mind) while preparing for the kick on the field (where it is realized). Performing should be a game within a game and therefore a relaxing endeavor. On the field the kicker should never be focused on the mechanics of the kick or the outcome of the kick. Any thought processes or unharnessed desires only allow for tension to be created. Since the kicking mechanics are a trained reflex and thus performed subconsciously, conscious thoughts become an internal distraction. Since the kick was made on the sidelines, the kicker can have a game within a game on the field as to where beyond the uprights the ball should go (i.e. hit a letter on the scoreboard or to a specific person in the stands) or simply be totally focused and above any distractions (time outs, heckling) that maybe directed towards them. There is a necessity, albeit brief, to address the mental aspect of performance for a kicker. The theme for our summer camp this year is "A Streak of 1." This has two crucially important points with it: 1) you play in the moment and you stay in the moment 2) because of this you must understand (as the kicker) that you're only as good as your next kick in your mind (everyone else will always keep you up to date with what you've done, but you can't stay there). In order to perform freely, there can be no hindrances of any kind present. You can't make up for a missed kick by kicking the next one harder. Just the same you can't kick to not miss the kick, you must be fully and freely released mentally (especially) and physically to perform on any field at any time under any conditions. One of the great points that I learned from Coach Renner was that of ownership. Ownership means just that, you own it. Your vision, your standards, your continual growth, and your continual refinement (body and skill set) which ultimately affect your continual results. Success is intentional, not accidental. Therefore, your commitment should never questioned. One of my coaching techniques involves the handing out of (preselected) books for the athlete to read. This is done at all of our camps and with all new personal instruction appointments. Yes, there are quizzical looks and sometimes the books may not be picked up for a few months until the athlete better understands what the purpose is behind this exercise. The mind must always lead the body. When mental growth takes place, the perspective changes. When the perspective changes, beliefs are sharpened. When beliefs are sharpened, there's no limit to what can be accomplished. About the Author...
Paul Woodside previously served as the Kicking Coach at Lake Braddock Secondary School in Burke, VA. As a walk-on to West Virginia University in the Fall of 1981, Paul rewrote the WVU record book, was a 2 time All-American, and was enshrined into the WVU Hall of Fame in 1999. Paul still holds to 2 NCAA records (most field goals in a season inside of 40 yards-23, and best percentage of field goals inside of 40 yards-100%). Paul simply had people believe in him. Recently featured in the best-selling book by Stefan Fatsis, "A Few Seconds of Panic." In addition to Paul working with the kickers at Before U Kick and www.footballuniversity.org, Paul enjoys spending time with the love of his life, his wife Teresa. Paul is the owner of Before U Kick, Inc. (www.beforeukick.com) and can be reached at beforeukick@msn.com. |
Seeing Beyond the Uprights