The life of a kicker can be very challenging. If you miss a kick during a game, be it a game-winning field goal or a simple extra point, your confidence and the confidence of the rest of the team in you is shaken. If you find yourself missing a few kicks that you know you should be making, then it is likely that there is something wrong with your technique that needs to be improved.
Being a kicker requires a flawless technique. Practicing the correct technique over and over until you can repeat it under pressure to same level every time will develop you into a much more confident and reliable kicker. Here are some tips to help you eliminate bad technique from your kicking.
The Kicking Foot
Make sure you are making contact with the ball with your instep rather than straight on over the laces. Using the inside of your foot provides you with much more accuracy on your kicks.
The Standing Foot
Your standing foot should not be behind or in front of the ball but just to the side of it. If your standing foot isn't alongside the ball, then your balance will make it extremely hard to get the ball to go where you want it.
Consistent Approach
No matter how long the kick is, be it a chip shot for an extra point or a field goal on the limit of your distance, your approach should always be the same. Changing your approaches can throw off your technique so it is vital you go through the same approach that feels comfortable for you.
The Follow Through
Making contact with the ball is not the end of the kicking technique; you need to employ an efficient follow through to make sure the ball goes in the direction you want. Your head should stay down and focus on the contact with the ball. After striking the ball, your leg should follow through straight towards the target and your head should remain down for as long as possible during the follow through motion.
Practice
If you know what you need to do but don't put enough time into practicing it, then there is no way you will be able to succeed. Being able to replicate the kicking skill each time with the correct technique requires a great deal of effort in practice sessions. Make sure you devote plenty of time to mastering your technique and you will begin to see more balls flying through the posts.
Remain Calm
Once you have your technique mastered and you are able to replicate it on a regular basis, all you need to do is keep calm when you are called upon. Just perform the technique like you know you can and do not let the situation get to you.
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