The art of punting is rarely appreciated. Most teams would rather score on every possession than punt the ball to the opposing team. However, when teams are forced to punt the ball, a skilled punter can become very valuable. Skilled punters are able to consistently kick the ball far down the field and pin the opposing team deep in its own territory. Yet for all the emphasis on the distance of a kick, equally important is the time the ball spends in the air. This time is crucial as the punting unit sends its coverage downfield to deny a long run by the punt return team.
Step 1
Improve your leg strength. Nothing you do technique-wise will enable you to suspend the ball longer in the air if you don't have the strength to put force behind the ball. Leg strength can be built with strength training workouts, such as lifting weights and performing body mass lifts. Numerous punt repetitions can also improve leg strength; some punters even use slightly weighted balls to provide a greater challenge.
Step 2
Increase your release and contact point on the football. Release the ball slightly above waist height and kick it at waist height or just below -- the less distance between your release and the kick, the better. If you contact the ball too low it will cause the angle of the ball's flight to be lower, resulting in a longer kick with less hang time. Increasing the height of your contact will improve the kick's angle and its hang time.
Step 3
Contact the ball as close to the middle of its underside as possible. This will produce a kick that maximizes hang time and distance. Kicking too close to either point on the ball will produce a poor angle that diminishes hang time and leads to better field position for the opponent.
Tips and Warnings
- Balance your hang time and distance traveled to produce the most effective punt. The ideal hang time is whatever time is needed for your teammates to reach the punt returner and prevent a sizable return. A 40-yard punt with 4 seconds of hang time is better than a 30-yard punt with 5 seconds of hang time -- provided your teammates make it downfield in time to prevent a long return. Kicking the ball in a way that prevents your punting unit from getting downfield in time is known as "outkicking the coverage." It can produce long punt returns.
Things You'll Need
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