How to Kick a Football: 5 Simple Steps

Learning how to kick a football is an essential skill in the game of football that can greatly influence the outcome of a game. 

Whether you’re looking to kick a PAT, kickoff, or setting up for the game winning field goal, understanding the proper technique and honing your skills as a kicker is crucial. 

In this guide, we will take you through the step-by-step process of kicking a football with precision, power, and accuracy. 

From the fundamental basics to advanced techniques, we’ll provide you with valuable insights and practical tips to help you improve your kicking abilities. 

Beginner’s Guide: How to Kick a Football

Step 1: Set Up the Tee

Selecting the appropriate tee is essential for a successful kicking experience. 

Look for a tee that is sturdy and durable, preferably made of rubber or a similar material. 

It should have a stable base that can withstand the impact of the ball and maintain its position during kicks. 

Opt for a tee with an adjustable height feature, allowing you to customize it to your desired kicking level.

Place the tee on the ground, ensuring that it is centered and aligned with your target area. 

The tee should be perpendicular to your intended kicking direction. 

Use the adjustable height feature to set the tee at an appropriate level, typically with the ball positioned slightly above the ground to facilitate a clean and effective kick.

Step 2: Kicking Stance.

Bend your knees slightly to establish a balanced and athletic stance. 

Leaning forward slightly helps you shift your weight onto your front foot, enabling a more powerful and controlled kick.

Before you start your kicking motion, take a deep breath.

Step 3: Kicking Foot at Impact.

As you prepare to strike the ball, make sure your plant foot is next to the ball.

Point your toes down towards the ground. 

Flex your dominant foot so that the top of your foot is in line with your shin. 

This position optimizes the contact area and allows for greater accuracy.

Step 4: Swing Your Kicking Leg Through the Ball.

Initiate the kicking motion by swinging your leg forward, ensuring your foot makes contact with the ball using the laces of your shoe. 

The laces offer a solid striking surface and generate maximum power, increasing the distance and velocity of your kick.

Step 5: Follow Through with Your Kick.

To achieve optimal distance and accuracy, follow through with your entire kick motion. 

As your foot connects with the ball, continue your leg swing motion through the ball. 

This follow-through helps maintain control and prevents your kick from being impeded prematurely.

How do you kick a football properly?

Here are the steps on how to kick a football properly:

1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Your non-kicking foot should be slightly in front of the ball, and your kicking foot should be behind the ball.
2. Bend your knees slightly and lean forward slightly. This will help you generate more power in your kick.
3. Point your toes down and flex your foot. This will help you make contact with the ball in the correct spot.
4. Swing your kicking leg through the ball, making contact with the laces of your shoe. The contact point should be about one-third of the way up from the bottom of the ball.
5. Follow through with your kick, swinging your leg all the way through. This will help you keep your balance and generate more power.

Warm-Up and Stretching

Importance of Warm-Up Exercises before Kicking 

Before you start kicking a football, it’s crucial to warm up your body properly. 

Warm-up exercises prepare your muscles and joints for the physical demands of kicking and help reduce the risk of injuries. 

Don’t skip this important step!

Dynamic Stretching Routines for Lower Body Muscles

To effectively warm up your lower body muscles, incorporate dynamic stretching exercises into your routine. 

These exercises involve controlled movements that take your joints and muscles through a full range of motion. Here are a few examples to get you started:

1. Leg Swings: Stand near a wall or support and swing one leg forward and backward, gradually increasing the range of motion. Repeat with the other leg.
2. Walking Lunges: Take a step forward with one leg, lowering your body into a lunge position. Push off with the back leg and bring it forward into the next lunge. Repeat while walking.
3. High Knees: Jog in place while lifting your knees as high as possible, alternating between legs. Engage your core and maintain an upright posture.

Remember to perform these dynamic stretches in a controlled manner, gradually increasing the intensity and range of motion. Listen to your body and avoid any exercises that cause discomfort or pain.

Tips for Avoiding Injuries through Proper Warm-Up 

To ensure a safe warm-up routine, keep the following tips in mind:

1. Start with a light aerobic activity like jogging or brisk walking for 5-10 minutes to increase blood flow and elevate your heart rate.
2. Focus on dynamic stretching rather than static stretching before kicking. Save static stretches for after your practice or game.
3. Pay attention to your body’s signals. If you feel any pain or discomfort during the warm-up exercises, modify or stop the movement immediately.
4. Gradually increase the intensity of your warm-up. Begin with gentle movements and gradually progress to more challenging exercises.

By incorporating these warm-up exercises and following proper techniques, you’ll prepare your body for kicking a football and reduce the risk of injuries. 

Now that you’re warmed up, let’s move on to mastering the technique of kicking in the next section.

Developing Accuracy and Precision

Significance of Accuracy in Kicking 

When it comes to kicking a football, accuracy is key. 

It allows you to place the ball exactly where you want it, whether it’s passing to a teammate or aiming for the goal. 

Developing accuracy not only enhances your overall performance but also increases your team’s chances of success.

Drills and Exercises to Improve Accuracy 

To improve your kicking accuracy, incorporate the following drills and exercises into your practice routine:

1. Target Practice Drills: Set up targets such as cones or markers at various distances and aim to kick the ball accurately towards them. Start with larger targets and gradually reduce their size to challenge yourself further.
2. Partner Passing Exercises: Work with a teammate and pass the ball back and forth using your feet. Focus on precision and maintaining a consistent pace. Experiment with different distances and angles to simulate game situations.
3. Controlled Shooting Drills: Set up a goal or designated target area and practice shooting the ball with accuracy. Aim for specific areas of the goal or try hitting different targets within the designated area. Focus on technique and maintaining control while striking the ball.

Importance of Practice and Repetition 

Improving your kicking accuracy requires practice and repetition. 

Consistently incorporating these drills into your training sessions will help refine your technique and build muscle memory. 

The more you practice kicking, the better you’ll become at judging distance, timing, and positioning to achieve accurate kicks.

Increasing Kicking Power

Relationship between Technique and Power 

When it comes to kicking a football, technique and power go hand in hand. While technique ensures accuracy and control, power adds that extra oomph to your kicks, making them more formidable and harder to stop. By combining proper technique with enhanced kicking power, you can deliver impactful shots and passes on the field.

Tips to Enhance Kicking Power

1. Building Lower Body Strength and Flexibility: Strengthening your lower body muscles is crucial for generating power in your kicks. Focus on exercises that target your legs, hips, and core. Squats, lunges, calf raises, and hamstring curls are great for building strength. Additionally, regular stretching exercises like dynamic leg swings and hip stretches will improve your flexibility, allowing for a greater range of motion and generating more power in your kicks.
2. Utilizing Proper Body Mechanics for Maximum Force: To maximize kicking power, pay attention to your body mechanics. Start by positioning your non-kicking foot next to the ball and slightly behind it for balance. As you swing your kicking leg, transfer your weight from your planted foot to the kicking foot, rotating your hips and generating rotational force. This transfer of energy from your core to your leg will result in a more powerful kick.
3. Incorporating Plyometric Exercises for Explosive Power: Plyometric exercises are dynamic movements that help develop explosive power. Incorporate exercises like box jumps, bounding, and explosive lunges into your training routine. These exercises train your muscles to generate force quickly, translating into increased kicking power on the field.

Remember, increasing kicking power takes time and consistent effort. 

Gradually increase the intensity of your workouts and practice proper technique to avoid injuries. 

Focus on quality over quantity, ensuring that each kick is executed with proper form and power.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Addressing Common Problems Faced while Kicking 

Kicking a football can sometimes come with its fair share of challenges. Let’s explore some common issues that players often face and discover effective solutions to overcome them.

Solutions and Tips to Overcome These Issues

1. Kicking Accuracy Problems: If you find yourself struggling with accuracy, try the following tips:
   • Focus on your technique: Ensure proper foot positioning, body alignment, and a controlled follow-through.
   • Pick a specific target: Visualize a specific spot on the ball or aim for a target on the field to improve your aim.
   • Practice precision drills: Set up targets or use cones to improve your ability to hit specific areas consistently.
2. Lack of Power and Distance: If you feel your kicks lack the power and distance you desire, consider these solutions:
   • Strengthen your lower body: Incorporate exercises like squats, lunges, and calf raises to build leg and core strength.
   • Generate proper body mechanics: Focus on transferring weight from your planted foot to your kicking foot, engaging your core, and utilizing hip rotation to maximize power.
   • Practice explosive movements: Include plyometric exercises like box jumps or explosive lunges to enhance your leg power and generate more force in your kicks.
3. Struggling with Consistency: Consistency is key for a successful kicker. Here’s how to improve consistency:
   • Develop a routine: Establish a consistent pre-kick routine that includes visualizing your kick and mentally preparing yourself.
   • Practice regularly: Dedicate regular practice sessions to kicking, ensuring repetition to build muscle memory and consistency.
   • Analyze and adjust: Review your kicks, identify any recurring issues, and make adjustments to your technique as needed.

FAQ:

How do NFL kickers kick the ball? 

NFL kickers kick the ball in a variety of ways, but there are some common techniques that most kickers use.

One common technique is the soccer-style kick. In this technique, the kicker approaches the ball from an angle and kicks it with the top of their foot, just like they would kick a soccer ball. This technique is often used for longer field goals, as it allows the kicker to generate more power.

Another common technique is the straight-ahead kick. In this technique, the kicker approaches the ball straight on and kicks it with the toe of their foot. This technique is often used for shorter field goals, as it is more accurate.

No matter which technique they use, NFL kickers all need to have a strong kicking leg, good balance, and excellent accuracy. They also need to be able to handle the pressure of kicking in front of a large crowd.

Here are some of the steps involved in kicking a field goal in the NFL:

1. The holder places the ball on the ground, perpendicular to the ground, with the laces facing away from the kicker.
2. The kicker takes a few steps back and then approaches the ball from an angle.
3. The kicker swings their kicking leg through the ball, making contact with the laces.
4. The kicker follows through with their kick, swinging their leg all the way through.
5. The ball travels through the air and hopefully goes through the uprights.

The distance of the field goal will determine how hard the kicker needs to kick the ball. 

For shorter field goals, the kicker may only need to tap the ball, while for longer field goals, the kicker may need to kick the ball with all their strength.

The accuracy of the kick is also important. The kicker needs to make sure that they hit the ball in the center, so that it travels through the uprights.

Kicking a field goal in the NFL is a difficult task, but it is one that can be mastered with practice. The best NFL kickers are able to consistently hit field goals from long distances, even under pressure.

How do you kick a football far? 

here are a few key things you can do to kick a football far:

• Use your core muscles. When you kick a football, your core muscles are responsible for generating power. Make sure to engage your core muscles throughout the kick, from the backswing to the follow-through.
• Keep your eye on the ball. This may seem like a no-brainer, but it’s important to keep your eye on the ball throughout the kick. This will help you make contact with the ball in the correct spot and generate more power.
• Use your kicking foot correctly. When you kick a football, you should make contact with the ball with the laces of your shoe. This will help you generate more power and accuracy.
• Follow through with your kick. This is one of the most important things you can do to kick a football far. When you follow through with your kick, you’re transferring all of your energy into the ball.
• Practice regularly. The more you practice, the better you’ll become at kicking a football far. Make sure to practice regularly and focus on the key principles outlined above.

Here are some additional tips for kicking a football far:

• Use a tee. A tee will help you keep the ball elevated, which will make it easier to generate power.
• Find a good kicking spot. The surface you kick on will have a big impact on your distance. Find a spot that is level and free of debris.
• Warm up properly. Warming up your muscles will help you kick with more power and accuracy.
• Stay relaxed. It’s important to stay relaxed when you kick a football. If you tense up, you’ll lose power and accuracy.

By following these tips, you can learn how to kick a football far. With practice, you’ll be able to kick the ball long distances with accuracy and power.

Wrap-Up.

There you have it, our beginners guide on how to kick a football. By practicing the outlined techniques and incorporating the tips provided, you’re on your way to becoming a skilled kicker.

Focus on the fundamentals, such as foot placement, body alignment, and follow-through. Remember to warm up, build strength, and incorporate plyometrics for optimal power.