When youngsters start playing the game of football, punting is one of the first aspects of the game they are drawn to. The idea of pounding the football high and deep down the field is something that appeals to young players who see punter at the high school level do just that in live games and also see with college and professional punters on television. However, teaching youngsters to punt takes patience since they have to learn the footwork, timing and coordination of punting.
Function
Punting the ball downfield helps your defense. When your offense can't move the ball or gets stalled, punting the ball on fourth down forces your opponent to move further down the field to start its possession and makes it more difficult to score.
Features
The punt is a very useful play and it starts with your punter catching the ball after it's snapped from center. The ball comes back to the punter in a spiral and the punter must catch it in his hands and then start his approach to the ball. After he catches the ball, he must take one step with his left foot--if he is a right-footed punter--and then a step with his right foot followed by a step with his left foot. At that point, the punter drops the ball toward his right foot and then he lifts his foot up and kicks the ball. That right foot must come up over the waist and approach shoulder height in order to finish an effective punt.
Significance
A well-delivered punt will put the opposing offense on the field at a point far away from the goalline. This means the punter has to be consistent in his ability to catch the ball and then punt it for distance, height and do it quickly. If the punt does not go high in the air, it will be easy for the opponent to return because it does not give the punting team a chance to get downfield and track down the punt returner. If the punter does not get rid of the ball quickly enough, the opponent may be able to rush in and block the punt.
Considerations
Coaches may want to give a player who is not a star the job of punting. In an effort to give everyone a chance to contribute, let an offensive lineman or defensive lineman have a chance to punt. Work with him in practice and go over the catch, the drop and the kick. This will help raise the youngster's self-esteem and increase his value to the team.
Warning
Ideally, you don't want to have to punt the football in any game. You want your offense to move the ball regularly and get in a position to make big plays and score on every possession. That is not going to happen very often. However, if your team is punting on every possession, you are not going to win many games.
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