When I rededicated myself to kicking in 2004 while in college I set out to learn everything I could on the subject. I was definitely behind the game technically and I needed to know what it would take to become a successful kicker. Scouring the internet for every bit of information I could find led me to a few different websites that were a great resource for me during my development. I distinctively remember reading an article early on entitled "Qualities of a Placekicker" written by John Matich from The Kicking System. This article really helped me cement the idea in my mind of what I needed to become. It allowed me to pinpoint what I needed to focus on and what I should strive to be.

What this article made clear to me was that Kicking was not simply a physical endeavor and that to be the best you have to understand and train for the Mental side of the game as well. This whole concept of Mental preparation fascinated me and I quickly focused a great deal on making this a strength of my own. 

For me, what makes Kicking so challenging is what makes it fun. You have to be a complete athlete in your physical characteristics and in your Mental make up. You can't just "try harder" when things are not going well. You need to find it from within yourself.

Here on Long Island we are stuck inside enduring another long winter. With significant snowfalls falling on a weekly basis, even the idea of Spring arriving seems ages away. However, in reality there is a light at the end of the tunnel, we are starting to see some moderate temperatures in the upcoming forecast and March 21st is less than five weeks away. The off-season is not as long as you may think, we only have six months before fall football camp. What you should be thinking about right now is what you can do to get better. 

It can be easy to get frustrated during the winter months being stuck indoors and unable to practice. But the winter provides an opportunity to focus on the minute details that could go overlooked the remainder of the year. Starting each year building from the ground up allows you to re-enforce the foundations of your technique. Doing this will solidify your belief and trust in what you are doing and give you confidence going into the new year.

 Here is a list of several simple muscle memory drills that I teach for Kicking and Punting ....