HOW TO KICK A FIELD GOAL PART 7: HEAD DOWN

Special Team Servant's Complete Guide to Kicking Field Goals Accurately, Consistently, and with Proper Technique

How To Kick a Field Goal: Head Down

Now that you know about making sure your kicking leg and ankle is completely locked when making contact with the football, the next area we will be discussing is keeping our head down through the kick.

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Your Head Should Stay Down Beginning from the Moment You Get Your Final Look at Your Target

You've taken your three steps back and your two steps across. You've got a last look at the target beyond the uprights you'll be kicking the football towards.

You give your holder the nod that you're ready to kick, and you put your head down. Specifically, you'll be focusing on your holder's down hand and where he'll place the football after he receives the snap.

Your Head Stays Down as You Approach the Ball to Kick Your Field Goal or Extra Point

After you heard your holder call for the ball, the ball his snapped.

Once you see your place holder's down hand leave the ground you start your approach to kick the field goal.

As you make your approach during the kick, your head continues to stay down, and you must remain focused on where the ball will be spotted.

Your Head Stays Down as You Make Contact with the Football and Kick the Field Goal or Extra Point

As you swing your leg back, your head stays down, and you remain focused on the football.

As you swing your leg towards the football, your head stays down and you remain focused on the football.

As you make contact with the football during your field goal or extra point, your head stays down and you remain focused on your foot hitting the sweet spot on the bottom third of the football.

As You Follow Through the Kick, Your Head Continues to Stay Down

Keeping your head down through the kick is essential to following through straight because your hips cannot open up if your head is down.

If you finish your kick and your hips are facing the corner of the field, or worse, the stands, you likely pulled your head too early.

You should finish with your hips pointing towards the uprights and that is made possible by keeping your head down through the follow through of your kick.

A good practice for new kickers is to kick the field goal or extra point and don't look up until your body stops and completely finishes the follow through. You could take it one step further and don't watch the ball go through the uprights at all and have your holder or coach tell you where the ball flew.

Conclusion: Kicking a Field Goal with Your Head Down

When kicking a field goal or extra point consistently, you need to keep your head down during and after the kick! This helps you stay focused and free of distraction from the other team, fans, etc. Keeping your head down also keeps your hips in check and helps you finish your kick towards your target.

The next step in kicking Field Goals Accurately, Consistently, and with Proper Technique is kicking with your plant foot arm coming across your body.