The purpose of this article is to discuss place kicking, teaching football kickers the art of kicking field goals. We will take you through the steps necessary to become a successful place kicker.
The tips written here are for soccer style place kickers.
1. Positioning the ball:
The place kicker lines up 7 yards behind the center. For practice purposes, start out .
about 20 yards from the goal posts.
The ball should have a slight backwards tilt whether it is being set by the holder
or placed in a kicking tee.
2. Positioning the place kicker:
1st. Take one stride backwards from where the ball will be placed.
2nd. Take two or more strides, depending on your comfort zone, to the side, measuring off the
distance from where the ball will be addressed.
3rd. It is very important place kickers always measure off the same distance regardless of the
distance needed to kick the field goal.
4th. The proper angle for addressing and kicking the ball. Successful place kickers
come in on the ball from half the distance of their side steps. Should field goal
kickers take 6 steps to the side, they want to take 3 steps in as the approach
and kick the ball.
5th. Look at the up rights, visualize the ball sailing through, splitting the goal posts.
5. Approaching the ball for the place kick:
1st: Sort of jab at the ground with the plant foot to start the forward momentum.
2nd. Take the firs step with the kicking foot.
3rd. Begin coming in towards half the distance stepped out.
4th. As you are ready to kick the ball, starting at the heel firmly get the plant foot
planted in the ground.
5th. The plant foot should be pointing straight towards the goal posts, even with
the ball and about one foot from the ball.
4th. Kicking the ball:
1st.Resting the weight on the plant foot, make sure the body is facing the goal posts.
2nd. Strike the ball with the upper bone of the center of the foot.
3rd. Kick the ball in the lower third, otherwise you risk topping the ball. Kicking
Lower on the ball adds height.
4th. Keep the head down and follow through extending the kicking leg as far as
possible. Lifting the head early can cause the ball to go to the right
for right footed kickers and left for left footed kickers.
Kickers should do about 20 minutes of warm up exercises before practicing. These warm ups should include stretching exercises to avoid pulled muscles and get the most out of place kicking practice. Remember it is quality and not quantity that creates successful field goal kickers.
Check out our Kicking Game Training Videos
Copyright 12/25/2008 by Andrew Berkey & scoretouchdowns.com
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Defensive Backs Football Training: Stripping the Football
Today we are seeing more defensive backs stripping the football from receivers. It has become a football skill unto itself, requiring defensive backs training and practice drills to hone their ball stripping football skills.
More coaches are teaching the art of stripping the football, running practice drills with the D-backs and receivers. Teaching the defensive backs how stripping the football is done. A stripped football, is a down used, with no gain. When the D-back is successful at stripping the football from the receiver, the ball comes out. Giving the defense an opportunity for a possible take-away.
More often than not defensive backs are not in position to bat the ball down, leaving them two options; making the tackle or stripping the football.
Defensive back training for stripping the football requires two basic sets of football skills. Mental and physical training are the essential football skills defensive backs need to be successful at stripping the football.
Football Skills for Stripping the Football:
Football skills for stripping the football begin with the proper mind set and attitude. The defensive back must approach the receiver with his mind set that he is going to strip the football from the receiver's hands. In order to be successful at stripping the football from the receiver, the defensive back must first understand the fundamentals of catching the pass.
Learning the pass catching mechanics are essential and can be achieved by studying DVDs and videos dedicated to teaching pass catching football skills.
Defensive backs will learn the basic positions a receiver may hold his hands prior to making the catch. If the ball is in front of the receiver are his hands above or below the shoulder pads, if behind the receiver are his hands above or below the shoulder pad, is the receivers back to the defender. These are important football skills defensive backs need to develop.
Next, the defensive backs training should show them which arm to attack. If the ball is thrown over the receivers left shoulder, the left arm is the point of attack, just as if the ball arrives over the receivers right shoulder, attack the right arm. In each case if the ball is caught going over the left shoulder, the defensive back uses his left arm to attack and if the ball is over the right shoulder he attacks using his right arm.
Practice Drills for Stripping the Football:
The first ball stripping practice drill should start with the receiver and the defensive back being stationary. In some parlances this defensive back practice drill is called a reach-and-pull.
The " reach-and-pull' technique is where the receiver stands back to the defensive back holding the ball on either side, the defensive back reaches out (left arm to left arm, right arm to right arm) and pulls the arm holding the ball downward stripping the football from the receiver.
Next is a walk through practice drill followed by running the stripping the football drill.
Ball stripping practice drills should be run about 3/4s speed and should not be exercised as a full contact practice. The focus of the drill, is to give the defensive back training on how to successfully strip the football from the receiver. Which arm the defensive back should attack and the football skills needed to strip the football from the receiver's hands.
In this drill the receiver and defensive back typically face the sideline, the defensive back about 10 yards away from the receiver. At the coaches signal the receiver starts running about 3/4s speed directly towards the side line. The defensive back takes off angling towards the point where he will intersect with the receiver as the ball arrives.
Once the receiver has run a few yards the coach throws him the football. The defensive back if he has timed his run and has taken the proper angle he should be at the receiver atthe same time as theball.
Using his attack arm the defensive back should be reach out and pulling the ball carrying arm down, dislodging the football. With his other arm, he should be hitting the receiver in the back with his fore arm and grabbing a hand full of jersey. Then if the defensive back is not able to dislodge the ball he is in position to make the tackle.
Who ever is throwing the ball to the receiver must throw the ball behind, high, low, left and to the right of the receiver giving the defensive back training on all the angles passes are caught.
In conclusion stripping the football requires both physical and mental football skills. Knowing which arm to attack, which arm to attack with and being able gage where the ball and receiver will meet and intersect with them all the while running at full speed.
A defensive back good at stripping the football doesn't happen by luck, it takes diligence and a strong practice work ethic.
More coaches are teaching the art of stripping the football, running practice drills with the D-backs and receivers. Teaching the defensive backs how stripping the football is done. A stripped football, is a down used, with no gain. When the D-back is successful at stripping the football from the receiver, the ball comes out. Giving the defense an opportunity for a possible take-away.
More often than not defensive backs are not in position to bat the ball down, leaving them two options; making the tackle or stripping the football.
Defensive back training for stripping the football requires two basic sets of football skills. Mental and physical training are the essential football skills defensive backs need to be successful at stripping the football.
Football Skills for Stripping the Football:
Football skills for stripping the football begin with the proper mind set and attitude. The defensive back must approach the receiver with his mind set that he is going to strip the football from the receiver's hands. In order to be successful at stripping the football from the receiver, the defensive back must first understand the fundamentals of catching the pass.
Learning the pass catching mechanics are essential and can be achieved by studying DVDs and videos dedicated to teaching pass catching football skills.
Defensive backs will learn the basic positions a receiver may hold his hands prior to making the catch. If the ball is in front of the receiver are his hands above or below the shoulder pads, if behind the receiver are his hands above or below the shoulder pad, is the receivers back to the defender. These are important football skills defensive backs need to develop.
Next, the defensive backs training should show them which arm to attack. If the ball is thrown over the receivers left shoulder, the left arm is the point of attack, just as if the ball arrives over the receivers right shoulder, attack the right arm. In each case if the ball is caught going over the left shoulder, the defensive back uses his left arm to attack and if the ball is over the right shoulder he attacks using his right arm.
Practice Drills for Stripping the Football:
The first ball stripping practice drill should start with the receiver and the defensive back being stationary. In some parlances this defensive back practice drill is called a reach-and-pull.
The " reach-and-pull' technique is where the receiver stands back to the defensive back holding the ball on either side, the defensive back reaches out (left arm to left arm, right arm to right arm) and pulls the arm holding the ball downward stripping the football from the receiver.
Next is a walk through practice drill followed by running the stripping the football drill.
Ball stripping practice drills should be run about 3/4s speed and should not be exercised as a full contact practice. The focus of the drill, is to give the defensive back training on how to successfully strip the football from the receiver. Which arm the defensive back should attack and the football skills needed to strip the football from the receiver's hands.
In this drill the receiver and defensive back typically face the sideline, the defensive back about 10 yards away from the receiver. At the coaches signal the receiver starts running about 3/4s speed directly towards the side line. The defensive back takes off angling towards the point where he will intersect with the receiver as the ball arrives.
Once the receiver has run a few yards the coach throws him the football. The defensive back if he has timed his run and has taken the proper angle he should be at the receiver atthe same time as theball.
Using his attack arm the defensive back should be reach out and pulling the ball carrying arm down, dislodging the football. With his other arm, he should be hitting the receiver in the back with his fore arm and grabbing a hand full of jersey. Then if the defensive back is not able to dislodge the ball he is in position to make the tackle.
Who ever is throwing the ball to the receiver must throw the ball behind, high, low, left and to the right of the receiver giving the defensive back training on all the angles passes are caught.
In conclusion stripping the football requires both physical and mental football skills. Knowing which arm to attack, which arm to attack with and being able gage where the ball and receiver will meet and intersect with them all the while running at full speed.
A defensive back good at stripping the football doesn't happen by luck, it takes diligence and a strong practice work ethic.
"Copyright 12/25/2008 by Andrew Berkey & scoretouchdowns.com
The Football Fumbler: Football Training Equipment
Remember the last time you fumbled? Remember how you felt, going back the side lines?
The Football Fumbler is football training equipment designed to help reduce fumbles. Running backs, quarterbacks and receivers training with the
Football Fumbler improve their football skills by having more ball awareness
Turnovers have become a major part of football. The team with the fewest turnovers usually wins.
Defenses are becoming more focused on how to strip the football from you running backs, quarterbacks and receivers. Honing their take-away football skills, defenses practice ball stripping and take-away drills.
As ball carriers you need to have more ball control, reducing the chances of a take-away..
The Football Fumbler is the perfect football training aid for quarterback, receivers and running backs wanting to improve your ball handling football skills.
The Football Fumbler is a long nylon cord that attaches to a football. The ball carrier holds the ball in his hand and arm running about half speed. His training partner jerks on the cord to simulate the defensive player trying to slap or jerk the ball from the runners grasp.
Your football fumbler comes with the nylon cords, attachments and practice drill instructions.
Start training with The Football Fumbler & reduce your chances of fumbling by having better ball control.
Copyright 12/25/2008 by Andrew Berkey
scoretouchdowns.com
The Football Fumbler is football training equipment designed to help reduce fumbles. Running backs, quarterbacks and receivers training with the
Football Fumbler improve their football skills by having more ball awareness
Turnovers have become a major part of football. The team with the fewest turnovers usually wins.
Defenses are becoming more focused on how to strip the football from you running backs, quarterbacks and receivers. Honing their take-away football skills, defenses practice ball stripping and take-away drills.
As ball carriers you need to have more ball control, reducing the chances of a take-away..
The Football Fumbler is the perfect football training aid for quarterback, receivers and running backs wanting to improve your ball handling football skills.
The Football Fumbler is a long nylon cord that attaches to a football. The ball carrier holds the ball in his hand and arm running about half speed. His training partner jerks on the cord to simulate the defensive player trying to slap or jerk the ball from the runners grasp.
Your football fumbler comes with the nylon cords, attachments and practice drill instructions.
Start training with The Football Fumbler & reduce your chances of fumbling by having better ball control.
Copyright 12/25/2008 by Andrew Berkey
scoretouchdowns.com
Friday, December 19, 2008
The Cover 2 Defense: How To Beat The Cover 2 Defense
Before we can successfully attack the Cover 2 Defense we need to have a basic understanding of what the Cover 2 is and how it is used.
The Cover 2 Defense derives it name from the number of deep safeties employed to cover the deep receivers. There are two deep safeties covering the deep threat, in a zone defense, each taking half the field.
The Cover 2 has three linebackers and two corners playing in a zone defense, each taking one 5th of the field, on the line there are 4 rushers.
Depending on what the defense sees, the 5 defensive backs will play zone or play man to man.
The QB can have a difficult time making the right read, whether it is man to man or zone. The Cover 2 is easy to disguise what its going to do, making it difficult for the offense.
Variations of the Spread Offense are more prevalent in college and high school play, a very effective offense to attack the Cover 2.
Frequently when offenses see the Cover 2 Defense, they will us a 4 vertical receiver attack, sending 4 receivers down the field, stretching the safeties. If they are running the underside D backs in a zone defense, there will be holes in the zone.
This will expose any defensive weaknesses. If they are not running the Cover 2 properly they will be exposed. The offense has the opportunity to complete a big play against the linebackers.
Using a high-low vertical stretch attacking the corners is another effective attack on the Cover 2 Defense.
When the Cover 2 is in the zone the corners responsibility is to cover the outside 5th of the field, protecting the flat.
The outside wide receiver runs full blast off the line selling he is running a post corner pattern. His goal is to sell the safety that he is running a deep inside post route. The goal is to freeze the safety or get him back pedaling. Once the safety is frozen the receiver breaks back to the outside for the corner.
The safety has to stay inside protecting his inside half of the field preventing the receiver from crossing inside him.
This will force the corner to sink and try to protect the hole created on the outside between the safety and the corner.
The offense then can release a running back or tight end into the new gap. The corner is caught in a hi-low stretch in his 5th of the field. Which ever target the corner covers opens up the other receiver for a possible big play.
The last strategy for attacking the Cover 2 Defense we will look at is called an In-out Horizontal Stretch on the corner back.
Typically this play is run against the corner and the SAM or Wil linebacker, defeating the Cover 2 by creating a gap between the linebacker and the corner.
The wide receiver releases to the outside forcing the corner to come up and try to jam and widen as he tries to keep the receiver from releasing out side, stretching the safety. As the corner comes up to jam the receiver the corner is now flattened out and widened exposing the inside.
As the corner widens with the wide receivers outside move, the offense takes advantage of this situation by sending the number 2 receiver either the tight end or running back inside to the hole the corner has left between himself and the SAM or Wil linebacker.
In conclusion the Cover 2 Defense is a very effective defense; I can be used as a zone defense or man to man. The challenges it presents the offense is how well it disguises itself between man to man and zone.
The Spread Offense is very effective in defeating the Cover 2 Defense using the vertical and horizontal stretches on the corners, linebackers and safeties.
Teams that have running quarterbacks with the spread can very successful against the Cover 2 Defense. The linebackers and corners covering the receivers leave gaps the quarterback can exploit on QB keepers.
Quarterbacks: How To Attack the Cover 2
Defensive Back Training Aids Coaching Videos
The Spread Offense
Copyright 12/25/2008 by Andrew Berkey & scoretouchdowns.com
The Cover 2 Defense derives it name from the number of deep safeties employed to cover the deep receivers. There are two deep safeties covering the deep threat, in a zone defense, each taking half the field.
The Cover 2 has three linebackers and two corners playing in a zone defense, each taking one 5th of the field, on the line there are 4 rushers.
Depending on what the defense sees, the 5 defensive backs will play zone or play man to man.
The QB can have a difficult time making the right read, whether it is man to man or zone. The Cover 2 is easy to disguise what its going to do, making it difficult for the offense.
Variations of the Spread Offense are more prevalent in college and high school play, a very effective offense to attack the Cover 2.
Frequently when offenses see the Cover 2 Defense, they will us a 4 vertical receiver attack, sending 4 receivers down the field, stretching the safeties. If they are running the underside D backs in a zone defense, there will be holes in the zone.
This will expose any defensive weaknesses. If they are not running the Cover 2 properly they will be exposed. The offense has the opportunity to complete a big play against the linebackers.
Using a high-low vertical stretch attacking the corners is another effective attack on the Cover 2 Defense.
When the Cover 2 is in the zone the corners responsibility is to cover the outside 5th of the field, protecting the flat.
The outside wide receiver runs full blast off the line selling he is running a post corner pattern. His goal is to sell the safety that he is running a deep inside post route. The goal is to freeze the safety or get him back pedaling. Once the safety is frozen the receiver breaks back to the outside for the corner.
The safety has to stay inside protecting his inside half of the field preventing the receiver from crossing inside him.
This will force the corner to sink and try to protect the hole created on the outside between the safety and the corner.
The offense then can release a running back or tight end into the new gap. The corner is caught in a hi-low stretch in his 5th of the field. Which ever target the corner covers opens up the other receiver for a possible big play.
The last strategy for attacking the Cover 2 Defense we will look at is called an In-out Horizontal Stretch on the corner back.
Typically this play is run against the corner and the SAM or Wil linebacker, defeating the Cover 2 by creating a gap between the linebacker and the corner.
The wide receiver releases to the outside forcing the corner to come up and try to jam and widen as he tries to keep the receiver from releasing out side, stretching the safety. As the corner comes up to jam the receiver the corner is now flattened out and widened exposing the inside.
As the corner widens with the wide receivers outside move, the offense takes advantage of this situation by sending the number 2 receiver either the tight end or running back inside to the hole the corner has left between himself and the SAM or Wil linebacker.
In conclusion the Cover 2 Defense is a very effective defense; I can be used as a zone defense or man to man. The challenges it presents the offense is how well it disguises itself between man to man and zone.
The Spread Offense is very effective in defeating the Cover 2 Defense using the vertical and horizontal stretches on the corners, linebackers and safeties.
Teams that have running quarterbacks with the spread can very successful against the Cover 2 Defense. The linebackers and corners covering the receivers leave gaps the quarterback can exploit on QB keepers.
Quarterbacks: How To Attack the Cover 2
Defensive Back Training Aids Coaching Videos
The Spread Offense
Copyright 12/25/2008 by Andrew Berkey & scoretouchdowns.com
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Is The Feista Bowl Missing The Larger Picture?
In our opinion, if the Fiesta Bowl chooses Ohio State over Boise State as the at large team, yes, they are missing the larger picture.
The BCS Bowls are not just about who deserves to be there. Most recently Auburn showed that, and last years NC game for the first time, invited a two loss team to the big event.
Ultimately the BCS selection committees look at two things in the selection process, how well do they travel and what kind of TV numbers with the match ups produce.
In this case The Fiesta Bowl committee is looking at Ohio State as a team that travels well and continuously draws a large television audience.
Boise State travels well, they proved that when they took 40,000 fans to the January 1, 2007 Fiesta Bowl. Do they draw as large a TV audience as Ohio State, probably not.
How is the Fiesta Bowl missing the larger picture? Because again it would pit Cinderella Boise State against The Big 12.
The January 2007 Fiesta Bowl featured the 2 loss Oklahoma Sooners against the Cinderella undefeated Boise State Broncos. That game became a legend that night. That game transcended sports audiences. People who did not see the game were talking about it.
The New York Times ran articles about the game, they even offered diagrams of the now 3 most know plays in football bowl history.
The fruits of that game went beyond sports pages and sports shows, it went mainstream America.
For those that don't recall, star running back Ian Johnson went from football hero scoring the legendary 2 point conversion to one knee on national TV. He proposed marriage in front a few million television viewers to his then girl friend and Boise State cheer leader.
This brought even more attention to the Fiesta Bowl, Ian and his wife to be Chrissy were featured guests on national watched shows like Good Morning America.
How is this lightening in a bottle for the Fiesta Bowl? They are the only BCS Bowl that can offer a rematch between David of the WAC and Goliath of the Big 12.
The above is publicity you cannot buy and it is available again through a Boise State Big 12 rematch.
The promotion of this game is a no brainer, the public would eat it up with a spoon.
Were the Fiesta selection committee to select the Broncos against the Big 12 their lead in to the promotion could be. Boise State did it once, can they do it again?
We believe that would be the question asked by sports writers across the country. Their television adds could show the 3 big plays asking that same question, are they good enough to do it again and reply with the Big 12 says no.
The question the Fiesta Bowl selection committee should ask themselves.
1.How much free publicity through sports writers and ESPN can this game generate?
2. How many people watched the first time? We think it was the second most watched bowl game of the 2007 season.
3.How many people would tune in for the rematch?
4. How much water cooler talk would this game generate?
It is our opinion a rematch between Boise State and the Big 12 would draw more television viewers than any other bowl game this season.
The BCS Bowls are not just about who deserves to be there. Most recently Auburn showed that, and last years NC game for the first time, invited a two loss team to the big event.
Ultimately the BCS selection committees look at two things in the selection process, how well do they travel and what kind of TV numbers with the match ups produce.
In this case The Fiesta Bowl committee is looking at Ohio State as a team that travels well and continuously draws a large television audience.
Boise State travels well, they proved that when they took 40,000 fans to the January 1, 2007 Fiesta Bowl. Do they draw as large a TV audience as Ohio State, probably not.
How is the Fiesta Bowl missing the larger picture? Because again it would pit Cinderella Boise State against The Big 12.
The January 2007 Fiesta Bowl featured the 2 loss Oklahoma Sooners against the Cinderella undefeated Boise State Broncos. That game became a legend that night. That game transcended sports audiences. People who did not see the game were talking about it.
The New York Times ran articles about the game, they even offered diagrams of the now 3 most know plays in football bowl history.
The fruits of that game went beyond sports pages and sports shows, it went mainstream America.
For those that don't recall, star running back Ian Johnson went from football hero scoring the legendary 2 point conversion to one knee on national TV. He proposed marriage in front a few million television viewers to his then girl friend and Boise State cheer leader.
This brought even more attention to the Fiesta Bowl, Ian and his wife to be Chrissy were featured guests on national watched shows like Good Morning America.
How is this lightening in a bottle for the Fiesta Bowl? They are the only BCS Bowl that can offer a rematch between David of the WAC and Goliath of the Big 12.
The above is publicity you cannot buy and it is available again through a Boise State Big 12 rematch.
The promotion of this game is a no brainer, the public would eat it up with a spoon.
Were the Fiesta selection committee to select the Broncos against the Big 12 their lead in to the promotion could be. Boise State did it once, can they do it again?
We believe that would be the question asked by sports writers across the country. Their television adds could show the 3 big plays asking that same question, are they good enough to do it again and reply with the Big 12 says no.
The question the Fiesta Bowl selection committee should ask themselves.
1.How much free publicity through sports writers and ESPN can this game generate?
2. How many people watched the first time? We think it was the second most watched bowl game of the 2007 season.
3.How many people would tune in for the rematch?
4. How much water cooler talk would this game generate?
It is our opinion a rematch between Boise State and the Big 12 would draw more television viewers than any other bowl game this season.
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