Successfully punting a football is critical to your football team's success because a good punt can put the opposing team in poor field position. The keys to a quality punt are how you hold the ball, drop the ball and where you strike the ball. Executing a successful punt requires mastering a several steps.
Holding The Football
Stand 10 to 15 yards behind the line of scrimmage and catch the football as it is hiked to you. Immediately hold the football with your dominant hand. You will want to hold the ball close to one end with the laces facing up. If the laces are facing down, they could interfere with the point of contact and spin of the ball, causing the football to go in an unwanted direction.
Taking Steps
Once you are holding the football properly, you want to step into your kick. Your first step forward should be with your kicking leg. As you take your second step with the other leg, you will want to plant that foot into the ground. Keep your strides small to moderate as you will want to kick the ball quickly before the defense gets close enough to block the kick or tackle you. If you take large strides, you will be that much closer to the defensive players.
Drop The Football
Dropping the football properly as you kick it is a critical part of the punt. Continue to ensure that the laces are facing up as your drop the ball toward your foot. You will need to drop the ball at the same time as your leg is coming up for the kick. Drop the ball at a slight angle from about the 11 o'clock position on an imaginary clock. This will help the ball avoid your shin and avoid a double hit when kicking. Precise timing is also important to give the football the most power and accuracy as possible. Kicking too soon could lead to the ball being low and blocked by the defense. Kicking too late can lead to a high kick, which will give the opposing team better field position.
Kicking Motion
Your kicking motion is what will determine how high and how far the football will go. While it might seem more natural for your leg to swing across your body when punting, it is better if your leg swings straight forward during the kicking motion. It is much harder to control your accuracy if your leg is going across your body. Try to aim for the outside center of the football to give the ball spin to make it more aerodynamic. Follow through with your kick after the ball has left your foot. If you are flexible enough, your follow-through should lead your leg through the ball and up toward your head.
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