Kicking the football is one of the most important yet often underappreciated aspects of the game. Ironically, it's not the fans or the media who fail to give the kickers their due. Instead, it's their teammates who regularly give kickers a hard time, because they don't face contact the way offensive and defensive players do. Still, kickers and punters have specialized talents and unique approaches.
Soccer-Style Kicking
Nearly all placekickers at all levels of the game use the soccer-style approach to kicking. In this style, the kicker will approach the ball at a 45-degree angle and usually use a two- or three-step approach before making contact with the ball with the instep of their dominant foot on a field goal or extra point attempt. Kickers use the soccer style because it allows them to get greater distance and control on their kicks.
Straight-Ahead Kicker
Through the mid-1960s, straight-ahead kickers were the dominant kickers in the game. Straight-ahead kickers used a two-step approach before launching into the ball with the big toe of their kicking foot. Many kickers wore a square-toe kicking shoe so that the kicker had a greater margin for error when making contact with the ball. Straight-ahead kickers usually could get the ball high in the air quickly, but they lacked the distance and accuracy of soccer-style kickers. The last straight-ahead kicker in the NFL was Mark Moseley, who kicked primarily for the Washington Redskins and retired in 1986.
Straight-Ahead Punter
The straight-ahead punting style has remained conventional in football for decades. In this style, the punter takes two-and-a-half or three steps forward before dropping the ball in the direction of his punting foot. The punter drives his foot upward and extends his leg fully to get height and distance on his punt. Of the two, height is the more important factor because it allows members of the special teams to get downfield and make a play on the return specialist.
Rugby Punt
The rugby style of punting has gained some traction at the high school and college level and is also used occasionally at the professional level. In this style, the punter takes the snap from center about 15 yards behind the line of scrimmage. He sprints to his right or left, maintaining a 10- to15-yard depth from the line of scrimmage. After five to seven steps, he drives the ball downfield with a rugby-style sidekick. This punt never gains much height, but it bounces and rolls downfield. Since the punter has sprinted away from potential blockers before kicking it, the rugby-style punt rarely is blocked.
References
- "Play Football the NFL Way"; Tom Bass; 1991
- "Inside the Helmet"; Peter King; 1993
