The football must pass between the goal posts in order for a field goal to count. It is allowed to hit the side of the goal posts first as long as the football goes through afterward. A field goal is worth three points and is usually run on a fourth down when a team is within reasonable distance of their opponent’s end zone.
Line up the laces so that they are facing the field goal. Doing so prevents the laces from interfering with the direction of the ball. This also allows you to kick the ball on the back seams, the spot which creates maximum compression when kicked. Maximum compression ensures that the football will travel farther and higher.
For left-footed kickers, take three paces back and two to the right of the ball. Try out different distances to see what works best for you. The length of your legs will have an impact on how far you step back. The longer your legs, the longer your stride will be when you run to kick the ball. The important thing to remember when stepping back is to be consistent. Find a distance that works for you and practice it consistently.
Place the foot that you will not use to kick the ball slightly in front of your kicking foot. This foot is called your plant foot because you will plant it next to the ball while kicking. Place your kicking foot slightly behind your plant foot. The toes of both feet should be pointing toward the places they will be upon contact.
The first step is optional and is called a jab step. This step will be a short step in the direction of the ball with your plant foot. Its purpose is to shift your body weight forward in the direction of the ball. The second step is called the drive step and is executed by taking a long stride in the direction of the ball with your kicking foot. The third step is taken by your plant foot to the side of the football. This is the most important step as it determines where your plant foot will anchor you to the field while you kick the ball. Because you are lined up behind and to the side of the football, you will be approaching the ball in a diagonal line.
The depth of your plant foot will vary depending on the height of the ball. If you are kicking on the ground your plant foot will be about four inches deeper than the football. If you are using a one-inch tee, your plant foot will be about two inches deeper than the football, and if your tee is about two inches high, your plant foot will be about equal with the football.
There are two types of kicking, straight and soccer-style. Almost all professional football players use the soccer-style kick. A straight kick simply means that after you make contact with the ball, your leg follows through in a straight line perpendicular to the ground. Straight-on kickers lock their ankles while kicking, allowing them to efficiently transfer kinetic energy forward. A soccer kick occurs when you swing your leg through to the opposite side of the ball that you kicked after making contact. Soccer-style kickers angle their foot at an obtuse angle, causing some of energy to be absorbed by the ankle joint. Test out both to see which you prefer, but remember that modern convention points to the soccer kick as the better of the two styles.
