HOW TO PUNT A FOOTBALL PART 1: PUNTING STANCE

Special Team Servant's Complete Guide to Punting footballs Accurately, Consistently, and with Proper Technique

How To Punt a Football: Punting Stance

So you want to learn how to punt a footballl but you don't know where to start? Look no further! The first step in accurately, consistently, and punting footballs with proper technique is learning how to get into the correct punting stance.

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How Far Away From the Ball Depends on What Level You Are Competing At

If you are a high school punter, you will need to be standing approximately 13 yards away from the ball.

If you are a college punter, you will need to be standing approximately 14 yards away from the ball.

Make Sure You're Lined Up Straight or Slightly Off-Center, Behind One of the Long Snappers Legs

Once you're either 13 or 14 yards away from the ball, make sure you're lined up directly behind the long snapper.

Depending on whether you are a left footed or right footed punter, you could be slightly offset in your punting stance.

If you're a right footed punter, you could be lined up slightly off center and behind the left leg of your long snapper. If you're a left footed punter, you could be lined up slightly off center and behind the right leg of your long snapper.

Lining up slightly off center will help you execute a punt with less side to side motion as you catch, drop, and punt the ball.

Stagger Your Feet In Your Punting Stance, Making Sure Your Back Foot Is Your Punting Foot

When you're in the punting stance, your back foot will be your punting foot. You need to be slightly staggered and comfortable. This means making sure the toes of your back foot (your punting foot) are lined up with the center of your front foot (non-punting foot).

If your stance is too staggered, you will likely take large and less controllable, off-balance, steps as you catch and punt the ball. If your stance is not staggered enough, you won't be in an athletic enough position to be able to naturally and quickly take your punting steps.

Being slightly staggered and comfortable is like a sprinter being in the starting blocks.

A Natural Punting Stance Means Your Feet are Shoulder Width Apart

A Proper Punting Stance Requires Two Bends

There should be a slight bend in your knees when you are in your punting stance.

There should also be a slight bend in your waist when you are in your punting stance.

With your knees and waist bent, you will feel natural and fluid. You will be ready to smoothly catch the ball and take your punting steps.

Without these bends you will likely feel stiff in your punting stance. With a stiff stance, you may overcompensate with your punting steps and be out of control, rushed, and inconsistent.

You should be slightly leaning forward in your punting stance.

Most of the Weight in Your Punting Stance Should be on the Balls of Your Feet

Having the weight on the balls of your feet allows you to smoothly transition into your punting steps.

If your weight is more evenly spread or even towards your heels, you will be caught flat footed. Being flat footed takes up precious time that you don't have, and it will ultimately rush your punt once you catch yourself.

If too much of your weight is on the balls of your feet, you'll likely be off balance and struggling to stand up.

The goal is to find a comfortable stance where most, but not too much, of the weight of your body is on the balls of your feet. In this athletic position, you will be in control, smooth, and quick to take your punting steps.

Your Arms Should be Dangling in Front of You

You need to be ready to quickly catch the ball whether it is a perfect snap, a high snap, or a snap in either direction. If your arms are dangling in front of you, they can easily move to whichever direction they need to move in order to catch the ball.

This also helps you catch the ball in front of your body.

If you have stiff arms, you may be slow to catch. If you're slow to catch, you may miss the opportunity to catch the ball in front of your body and ultimately catch it in your pads or facemask. This slows down your operation time because you will then need to put the ball back in front of your body to punt it. This is extra movement you don't have time to make.

Dangling arms in your punting stance help you catch the ball in front of your body and keep it there, reducing the amount of movement you need to make as you take your punting steps.

Conclusion: Having a Proper Punting Stance

In order to have a proper punting stance, you need to be standing the right distance away from the ball. You should be lined up directly behind the long snapper or slightly off center, behind one of his legs. Your feet should be staggered, and there should be a slight bend in both your knees and your waist. Finally, your arms should be dangling in front of you so you can catch the ball easily in front of your body or any direction the ball is snapped.

The next step in punting footballs Accurately, Consistently, and with Proper Technique is knowing your punting operation time.