New year, new form. Kicks from 20M, 20M, 32M, 36RM, 40LM, 40LM, 40LM! Feedback is very much appreciated!

This past weekend, I worked with Gary Zauner, the #1 kicking coach in the country. Gary is famous for helping elite specialists break into the NFL. This clip is of Ben d'Aquila, a Big Sky Honorable Mention All-Conference Punter from Northern Arizona. Last Fall, he averaged 46 yds/punt. This is an elite punter, getting an opportunity to be tested — NOT to get an NFL contract, but to get an invite to a pro tryout in front of pro coaches who can offer that contract. He flew from Arizona to Wisconsin (paying his own way), just for the chance to punt in front of Coach Zauner on a nice July morning in Milwaukee (also paid for). He stretched out and warmed up for about 20 minutes. Had to wait another 20 minutes while snappers were being tested, then prepped a little more just prior to being asked to "give it a go" with a live snapper and Coach Zauner ready with a trusty stop-watch. This is the full extent of the charting he received.He got 6 punts (3 traditional+3 directional). That's it... his day was done. How do you think he felt? Did he accomplish what he set out to do? Were the bombs he hit enough to impress an invite? When the pressure is on — like REALLY on — how well do you perform?

OK, so it was a weak month of commentary from our membership, but I think that's mostly because I spent most of my June on the road at the 8 kicking camps this summer. They are all complete now... and as fate would have it, Matt joined me at the last camp in Walworth, WI at Big Foot High School. He took a day off from work just to work with my campers! When Matt offers his advice in here, know that he was once a fine kicker himself, was a camper at the Original Mike Farley's Kickers Camp, became the proud father of an All-Conference High School kicker/punter who has gone on to kick and punt at Drake University! He has a lot of friendly advice for both specialists AND THEIR PARENTS! He's even devised a recruiting "game" that we'll be sharing with our membership soon. Congrats, Matt! Now, everyone, it's summer practice season. The time is now to get your kicking leg in gear and make the positive strides you're looking for prior to this Fall's Football Season! 🏈

I have never been able to watch the UFL, but have gotten oddly into CFL highlights. They just started the regular season up north so check it out on YT. It’s 12 men per side, unlimited motion, huge fields and for kickers, two big things — place kickers may use a small block, and the “rouge” or “single” is a thing. Punts that go into the huge end zones and are not returned earn one point for the kicking team. Same with a missed field goal. So you can often see a score of 1-0. Go to the 1:24 mark here to see a rouge, followed by the score line you’ll see nowhere else in football.

Yesterday (6/7) we had perfect weather for a great morning session of kicking and punting. We packed learning about holding, proper approach, foot position, striking contact, the Post Drill, Sideline Drill, K-Zone... and that was in the first hour of camp! So much more to learn and take home with our campers to do the "real work" of mastering those drills and skills to become a better, more consistent kicker and your team's Friday Night Kicker!