How to Punt a Football - Ray Guy

How to punt a football -  Pro punter Nick Harris demo stepping patternPro punter Nick Harris demos guide hand release show how to punt a footballNFL pro punter Nick Harris releases football punting showing how to dropNick Harris former NFL punter prepares to punt the footballFootball impact with punting foot demo by former NFL pro punter Nick HarrisPro Punter Nick Harris demo punting followthrough

 
THE BASICS
 
ALIGNMENT
  • Whereas college and pro punters set up 15 yards from the LOS (line of scrimmage), high school, punters are usually taught to set up about 12 yards back.
  • The exact depth of the alignment may vary with the ability of the long snapper. Since the college / pro snappers are more specialized and advanced, they have the strength and accuracy to deliver the ball to a punter 15 yards back...maximizing the distance of the oncoming rush.
  • Every punter should place his punting foot on a direct line with the ball or on a line that splits the centers crotch

Pro punter Nick Harris demos receiving the snap punting the football - Ray Guy Prokicker.comImage

VARIATION: HOW RAY GUY DID IT - FIELD ALIGNMENT
 
STANCE AND BODY POSITION
  • The punter must assume a comfortable, relaxed and balanced stance that will enable him to quickly adjust to the ball...left, right, up or down.

NFL punter Nick Harris demo how to punt a footballPro Punter Nick Harris stance - Punting the footballImageImage

COACHING POINTS:

  1. Feet approximately armpit width apart with the punting foot slightly staggered back (toe-to-instep).
  2. Body weight evenly distributed.
  3. Knees slightly flexed
  4. Slight body lean forward - to abet the anticipated forward motion.
  5. Arms relaxed down by the sides, to avoid any tension in the shoulders and arms.
  6. Strict concentration - eyes focused on the football. 
  7. The moment the long snapper places his hand on the football...the punter is ready to receive the snap.
  8. As the punter enters the game he should know the situation (field position objective), the alignment of the opponents and the direction in which he wants to punt the football (target area).
VARIATION: HOW RAY GUY DID IT - STANCE AND BODY POSITION
 
RECEIVING THE SNAP
  • Once the body is positioned and completely relaxed, the punter must focus entirely on the football.
  • When the snapper's hands are placed on the football the punter must now be ready.
  • As the snap is made, the punter must move (lean to meet) the football. This begins the quick, efficeint movement as the punter receives the football and transitions to his stepping pattern.
 
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COACHING POINTS: 

  1. Snapper aiming point is to deliver the football to the hip-thigh area of the punters leg.
  2. Punter needs to catch the football out in front of his body keeping arms outstretched as the football is received. Having arms extended (out in front) keeps them in an efficient position to prepare for the drop.
  3. Punter must look the football into his hands while simultaneously identifying ball position (laces) as it is caught. Focusing on the ball position enables immediate molding (adjusting) to ensure laces are positioned upward. 
VARIATION: HOW RAY GUY DID IT - RECEIVING THE SNAP
 
POSITIONING OF THE HANDS / BALL / GRIP
 
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VARIATION: HOW RAY GUY DID IT - POSITIONING OF HANDS
 
BALL ALIGNMENT
VARIATION: HOW RAY GUY DID IT - FOOTBALL ALIGNMENT
 
HOW TO PUNT A SPIRAL
VARIATION: HOW RAY GUY DID IT - HOW TO PUNT A SPIRAL
 
STEPPING PATTERN
VARIATION: HOW RAY GUY DID IT - STEPPING PATTERN
 
BALL RELEASE / DROP
VARIATION: HOW RAY GUY DID IT - THE DROP
 
BALL-FOOT IMPACT
VARIATION: HOW RAY GUY DID IT - BALL-FOOT IMPACT
 
FOLLOW THROUGH
VARIATION: HOW RAY GUY DID IT - FOLLOW THROUGH
 
POST PUNT POSITION
VARIATION: HOW RAY GUY DID IT - POST PUNT POSTION
 
RAY GUY BOOK EXCERPT

 

YOUTUBE VIDEOS ON PUNTER RAY GUY

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