Kick a football with this Letsfixit guide. A good, hard kickoff or punt gives your team the chance to bury the opposition deep on its side of the field, while a field goal can win the game. Learning the proper kicking techniques is only part of the job, though. You have to be able to handle distractions and developed great mental strength to be a successful as a kicker, but this article will only teach you the proper kicking techniques.
Perform a Kickoff or Kick a Field Goal – Set up the football for a kickoff. Position the football on the tee almost perpendicular to the ground, but angled slightly toward you.
Set up a field goal attempt, if you are looking to score. Have the holder kneel on the opposite side of the ball from where you’ll be running, and place the football with the laces forward (away from you) and the ball almost perpendicular to the ground, but angled slightly toward you, the kicker. The holder should place either his palm or the tips of his index and middle fingers on top of the ball, gently applying pressure to hold it in place.
Take three steps back. If you kick with your left foot, take two and a half steps to the right. If you kick with your right foot, take two and a half steps to the left.Run toward the ball, starting with the foot you won’t be kicking with.Plant your nonkicking leg firmly about 1 foot to the side of the ball, your foot pointing in the direction in which you want the ball to go (between the goal posts, for example, or straight down the field for a kickoff).
Power through the ball with your kicking foot, making contact about one-third of the way above the ball’s lower tip. For maximum distance, kick with the top two inner shoelace holes of your shoe.
Follow through as much as your flexibility will allow.
Punt a Football – Stand 15 yards behind the line of scrimmage. Catch the ball when the center snaps it to you.
Hold the ball out in front of you horizontally with the laces pointing up.
Take two steps forward, beginning with your kicking foot.
Drop the ball toward your kicking foot and kick the ball hard with the top of your foot.
Follow through with your kicking leg as high as your flexibility will allow. Some punters practically kiss their knee.