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All contents Copyright © 1999, George Jakowenko. |
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This site is dedicated to kickers who
are not able to receive proper training in placekicking and punting.
The score is 21 to 20; your team is behind. It is 4th down, the ball is on
the 20 yard line. The coach calls time out with 2 seconds left. The coaches
are huddled on the sideline. They look at their play-sheet, glance where the
ball is resting, look back to their play-sheet and speak into their headsets
to the spotters in the press box. They are frantically deciding what the
next play should be. The crowd is yelling, your teammates are yelling,
everyone is yelling, excitement is building, and the tension, so thick you
can cut it with a knife, is mounting. Players are whacking you on the
helmet, butt and shoulders, to show support if you are called to kick. You
feel like a punching bag. Your teammates know that you may be called any
second to kick. You hear the words "FIELD GOAL". You, and countless others,
have fantasized this moment in your mind many times. "TWO SECONDS LEFT TO GO
IN THE GAME, HE KICKS, IT'S GOOD, HE WINS THE GAME!!!."
But reality sets in quickly. Is this the moment you have been truly waiting
for? You and your teammates have practiced this situation many times. You
jog out on the field. Nervousness hits you like a ton of bricks. Your knees
are weak. As much as you try to stay calm, your stomach is in knots. You
wonder how your stomach has room for knots with all of the butterflies
already there. The feeling in your stomach is new this time. Sure you
practiced this with the team many times, but this is real; win or lose, it
is up to you. YOU are the one being watched by everyone in the stands. YOU
are the one being talked about; the announcers are discussing YOUR
statistics and YOUR experience in this type of situation. You are just
trying to make it on to the field without fainting. You hope you do not trip
over your feet and embarrass yourself. You must control the anxiety and
concentrate on the form. You line up. The opponents are yelling at you. You
hear "WUSSY", "NO-KICKER", "CHOKER", all meant to break your concentration.
All the techniques you practiced go through your mind.
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You CONCENTRATE on only one thing and one thing only--the form. You line up
for the kick, take the steps back and to the side, shake your arms to relax.
The holder, already on one knee, is waiting for the snap. He looks at YOU,
waiting for YOU to give the go-ahead. The center is waiting for YOU. The
team is waiting for YOU, they are all waiting for YOU to give signal to
proceed. YOU are in control. NOTHING HAPPENS UNTIL YOU GIVE THE SIGNAL. You
take a deep breath, take one last look at the goal posts and you give the
prearranged signal. The ball is snapped. Your mind races through all of the
kicking techniques you have practiced time and time again. CONCENTRATE,
CONCENTRATE, CONCENTRATE. You see the ball coming towards the holder, he
catches the ball and lowers it to the kicking tee. You start the approach.
Even though you are concentrating, you subconsciously PRAY for a good snap
and hold. The holder places the ball on the tee and WHOOSH; the sound your
leg makes as it cuts through the air, speeding towards the ball. You still
concentrate on form and do not hear the pounding, grunts and groans at the
line of scrimmage. One team blocking, and another one penetrating. You hear
the THUNK of your foot hitting the sweet spot on the ball. You focus on the
follow-through, and as you finish the follow-through and look up, you see
the ball sailing toward the uprights, down the middle, with plenty of
distance. You do not wait for the referee's signal, you jump up as far as
you can and shoot your arms up into the air, signaling "IT'S GOOD". The
holder is the first player to give you a high-five. This experience is the
ultimate high. You will never forget this moment.
OR
The score is 21 to 20; your team is behind. The holder places the ball on
the tee, and WHOOSH; the sound your leg makes as it cuts through the air,
speeding towards the ball…you hear the THUNK of your foot hitting the sweet
spot on the ball. You focus on the follow-through and as you finish the
follow-through, you look up; but just then, you hear another THUNK. The
second THUNK is the sound heard when the ball is blocked by the defense. The
dreaded DOUBLE- THUNK. The field goal try is BLOCKED; *@#$&*!!! The ball
lands right in front of you and there is a mad scramble for the ball. The
depression starts almost immediately. Everyone will blame you for the miss.
You dread the jog back to the sideline, because what is waiting for you is
not a welcome home party. You start sweating, as you come off the field. The
coach glares at you. Fans on your side of the field are booing; fans on the
opponent's side are cheering. Forget about getting a ride home from any of
your teammates, or what may be left of your friends. For the moment, your
life just turned to cow dung. And the good time you were planning to have
with friends tonight, forget it. And from the family, you will hear those
dreaded words of consolation "That's OK honey, you did your best". You will
remember that moment for the rest of your life too. .
So, you still want to be a kicker? You BETCHA!

My name is George Jakowenko, former kicker in the National Football League
for the AFC West Oakland Raiders and the AFC East Buffalo Bills.
Placekicking, punting, field goals, extra points, kickoffs are an exciting
aspect of football and you can be a part of the excitement. On any football
field, there is always someone trying for "3", or trying to punt a "spiral".
But what you do not hear on a consistent basis are "IT'S GOOD!" and "GREAT
PUNT".
My site has been developed for you. I explain the proper techniques you need
to apply to increase accuracy and distance for placekicking of field goals,
extra points and punting. Both distance and accuracy will be improved with
less effort. I have taught high school and college students to kick and punt
for over 27 years. When the techniques are applied properly, you will
improve accuracy and distance. I explain the fundamentals of placekicking
field goals, extra points and kickoffs and punting. Also proper warm-ups,
stretching exercises, practice drills and how equipment affects your kicking
success.
This is an extensive site on placekicking and punting. Throughout the site I
refer to instructions for right-footed place-kickers and punters. If you are
a left-footed placekicker/punter reverse the instructions
The biggest reason why you are not a better placekicker/punter is because
you lack a resource to teach you! You are frequently left on your own to
practice. My 27 years of both playing and teaching will help you improve
your placekicking and punting and give the coach more time to concentrate on
other parts of the game.
One of many misconceptions about a placekickers and punters is that size and
gender matter. I have taught kicking to players of all sizes and shapes,
both male and female, all of whom have been successful.
Punting
Kicking

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