River Falls Kicking Camp June 27-29

On June 27-29 I worked Coach Zauner's Kicking Camp at River Falls, Wisconsin. This camp is the oldest kicking camp in the country and a camp that Coach Zauner has worked for over 35 years! There were over 40 high school kickers from mainly the Midwest who attended the camp to learn more about special teams.

As you can see the pictures (above and below) I am demonstrating to the campers about the proper technique for field goal kicking. I hadn't kicked in a few months as I have been so busy with my trip to Europe and giving kicking lessons, but I was still pretty sharp in my demonstration.

For three days I worked with kickers ranging from 8th grade all the way to seniors in high school. It was great working with the guys as it brought me back to when I was that age and I attended three or four kicking camps every summer.

As you can see in the picture (above) I had a pretty good holder in Jon Ryan, who is the punter for the Seattle Seahawks. It was great meeting him and watching him demonstrate punting. I am sure the campers were impressed with his demonstration as he hit some punts with hang times as high as 5.5 seconds!

I really enjoyed the camp and it was great working with the young specialists and seeing their improvement. In the picture (below) you can see me in a picture with all the counselors from Right to Left: Brad Nortman (Wisconsin Punter), James Wilhoit, Coach Zauner, and Jon Ryan (Seattle Seahawks Punter).

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Coach Zauner's Pro Development Camp June 24-26

On June 24-26 I worked Coach Zauner's Pro Development Camp. Coach Zauner has come up with a unique idea for this camp, which is to bring together college & NFL free agent kickers, punters, and snappers and prepare them for what it takes to play in the NFL. Coach Zauner ask me to assist him with the camp by being in charge of the kickers and also doing a presentation on Sports Psychology.

Here in the picture (above) you can see University of Tennessee long snapper, Morgan Cox, and University of Georgia punter, Drew Butler, working on the snap and hold for field goals. This camp offers something very unique for specialists because it helps them get prepared for their season by working on get off times and other small details of the kicking game that can't be offered in One on One Instruction. We worked with specialists across the country but I had to show the SEC specialists in my blog!

I want to thank Coach Zauner for the opportunity he has given me for learning under him these past 6 months and for inviting me to work his Pro Development Camp. This camp was truly a great experience and I honestly believe there is not a more knowledgeable coach in the country when it comes to snapping, punting, and kicking.

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Clayton Ream (Beech High School)

On Monday and Tuesday Clayton Ream (Beech High School) got some One on One Instruction for his kicking and punting. Clayton is entering his junior year and is looking to handle both the kicking and punting duties for his school. He had never been coached and was looking for some quality instruction to improve his game.

The first day I worked almost exclusively with Clayton on his punting. Punting can be a difficult skill for a beginner as the footwork and drop are vital to success. We worked on the 'Drop Progression Drill' to help him with his punting and by the end of the day he was much more comfortable. He now has the tools to go back home and use his copy of the lesson to continue to improve.

Next, we worked on placekicking. Clayton did not have any regular field goal steps so I put together a set of steps for him. He plays soccer for his school and is very natural at striking the ball so all I really needed to do was point him in the right direction with a few key points. By the end of the day he was kicking much more consistent on both field goals and kickoffs.

It was a pleasure working with him and I wish him the best of luck this season except when he plays my alma mater, Hendersonville High School. All kidding aside, he was a quick learner and very nice young man and I expect him to continue to improve with constant practice.

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Skylar Keyes (Cumberland County)

On Monday and Tuesday Skylar Keyes (Cumberland County High School) came to Hendersonville to get some One on One Instruction for his kicking. Skylar is entering his sophomore season of high school and is a very talented soccer player. After some recruiting by his football coach, Skylar decided to give placekicking a try and has really taken a liking to it. He came to work with me to improve on his fundamentals before the season.

Skylar had a really good leg and we worked on some specifics in his fundamentals like foot position on the ball and kicking up and through the ball. I have started to notice that these soccer players have a natural ability to kick the ball and I have learned to give them enough technique so that they can use their strength from soccer as a natural advantage.

Skylar had a really good leg for his age and I believe he has a lot of upside. I will be headed to Knoxville for lessons throughout this coming month and I expect to stop by Crossville on the way and work with Skylar again.

It was a pleasure meeting Skylar and his father Shea and I look forward to working with them again in the near future.

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Trip to Europe Continued...

The final part of my trip to Europe ended with stops in Rome, London, and Paris. After being on a cruise for 8 days and seeing such beautiful coastlines it was now time to see some of the more historical cities of Europe. In the picture (above) you can see me in Rome at the Colosseum.

We took a tour of Rome at night and went to Trevi Fountain. The legend is that if you throw a coin into the fountain than you are ensured a second trip to Rome and as you can see in the picture (above) I am definitely planning on coming back!

My parents and I visited Paris for three days and it is such a historical place. I felt like I was walking past so much history and culture. This picture (above) is of the Louvre, which is the most visited museum in the world. I was able to see some paintings including the Mona Lisa, but was especially impressed by the Egyptian exhibit. I spent a day at the Louvre but I needed a few more days to see all the different exhibits.


Also, we stopped in London for a day, where we saw Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, and St Paul's Cathedral. I especially enjoyed the London Eye, which is similar to a Ferris wheel that overlooks all of London. It was nice going to a country that spoke English, or at least a form of it!

Anyway, I had a wonderful trip to Europe and now it is back to work. I have a full schedule of kickers set up for the next month and a half, but I still am accepting clients if someone is interested. I am working with over 40 specialists up until August along with Coach Zauner's Pro Development Camps, where I will be working with some of the best college and NFL talent in the world. It is a very exciting time and I can't wait to get started.

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Trip to Europe June 5-20

For the past week I have been on a Royal Caribbean cruise with my family through the Mediterranean stopping in Spain, France, and Italy. My parents invited me on the trip at the last minute and I was a little apprehensive about going, but I certainly feel that I made the right choice in coming.

In the picture (above) you can see a picture of the coastline in Nice, France. This is part of the French Riviera. I was able to see other parts of the French Riviera including Monte Carlo and Monaco. Monte Carlo is home to the 'Casino Royale', which is one of the most famous casinos in all of the world. Monaco is approximately 2 miles but has beautiful scenery and is one of the wealthiest countries in the world.

Right now I am in Rome, Italy. This picture (above) is of the Colloseum, which is one of the most impressive sites I have ever seen. It had been a dream of mine to see it and I could only imagine what it must have been like to have it filled to capacity!

I will be back in town on June 20 and I have lessons June 22-23 with Clayton Ream (Beech), Tyler Emmetts (Mount Juliet) and Skylar Keyes (Crossville) so stay tuned for another blog about the conclusion of my trip and more blogs to follow.


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