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Drill 3
Name:
One-Legger
Purpose:
To develop balance and good foot/ball contact
Equipment:
A punter and an age appropriate football, teammate or coach if
available, straight-line to punt down if available
Procedure:
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The contact of the football
to your foot is important because that’s where the strength of your
leg is put into the football. Great punts happen because all of that strength goes
into the football because of good foot/ball contact. This drill will help you make solid contact, and show
you how important it is.
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You will not take any steps
in this drill. The drill
must be done while standing and balancing on your plant leg
(non-kicking leg).
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Start by standing on both
feet. Place the ball in
good drop position.
-
Now balance on your plant
leg, lift your punting foot slightly off the ground (keep balancing!),
and punt the ball. Tough?
Sure is!
-
Continue to practice this,
and when you’re more comfortable with balancing and punting
concentrate on the contact part.
You should be able to consistently punt the ball straight and
about 10-20 yards if you have good contact.
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If the ball is flying off
either side of you, stop and think about the basics:
good drop position (Drill 1), straight leg swing into the ball
and head down after the punt (Drill 2).
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Don’t get frustrated!
This is one of the more advanced drills, but will help you in
balancing your body during the contact part of the punt, and that
balance will give you an awesome foot/ball contact for an extra 10 or
15 yards on your punts.
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Coaching
Points:
Because this
is one of the more advanced drills, younger punters may become frustrated.
The goal is NOT distance. It’s
to consistently contact the ball and punt it straight.
Having the punter punt down a sideline or yard line can sometimes
help them with the accuracy part of the drill.
The goal is for them to understand that you don’t have to punt
the ball as hard as you can to have a great punt.
The contact part of the punt is what will determine how far and
high the punt goes.
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