You love football, it is a passion that runs deep through your veins. Do you dream of being a professional kicker, or perhaps just getting on your local high school or even junior high team as a kicker? Whether you have natural talent or not, it can only get you half of the way.
There is no professional player out there that will tell you they rely completely on natural talent, even the most arrogant player will admit they practice, seek advice, and have a mentor or coach hassling them to do better along the way.
Being the best kicker you can be means you are willing to do whatever it takes to improve and build on natural talent. If you think you can get into a team and only play on game day, you need to wake up and understand that a true dedication to the sport is needed if you ever want to succeed, regardless of what level you are talking about, pro, college, or highschool.
One way to truly advance your kicking abilities is through a professional kicking camp. You might have heard of these before, but be careful! Not all camps are created equally, some are only out there to make money and truly provide little to you in return. So what do you look for in a legitimate kicking camp? First, ask about the coaches involved in the program.
If their own football experience doesn't go beyond watching the camp, playing a sports game on their Xbox, or playing fantasy football- don't waste your money. A good camp will have at least one leader who has been involved in real coaching for years or is a former college or pro level kicker themselves. By sticking with camps that have truly talented coaches, you can ensure that they know what it takes to be a great kicker and that their advice will actually benefit you in the long-run.
So what will you 'learn' at one of these camps? Each camp is different, and some are nothing more than a one time session that will give you basic advice on what you need to improve your kick by analyzing how you currently are kicking. How much coaching you need at the camp will vary on your own budget and just exactly what you are looking to get out of the experience.
A good camp will help with technique, both mental and physical. They will advice on what to do to handle the stress that comes with being a kicker and will also talk about kicking patterns, how they work and how to improve. The actual quality of the kick, and tips on improving it, will also be discussed.
Does every would-be kicker need to go to a special football kicking camp? Honestly, no, but it certainly is a great way to get tips from someone who has been in your shoes and can help you advance your kicking skills to new levels much more quickly than if you went at it alone.
Finding the right Football Kicking Coach might seem hard, but there are many great camps ran by professionals such as former-NFL kicker Shane Andrus that are truly worth looking in to.
