James Wilhoit Kicking Coach: Consulting with CFL Winnipeg Blue Bombers

After finishing up the combine at the beginning of the month I went back to Tennessee to continue my kicking consulting business. During my time back I was able to consult with Coach Kyle Walters of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League (CFL).

Following Coach Renner's Training Program has been invaluable to me not only as a kicker but as a kicking coach. One of Coach Renner's many strengths is the fact that he is not just a special teams guru but a football coach. He leads men and has the ability to teach every position on the football field.

I learned so much from Coach Renner and I have taken that knowledge to conduct Special Teams Clinics for football coaches in a way that is easy for your average football coach to understand.

One of the biggest issues for kicking specialists in the game today is the disconnect between the players and coaches. Most coaches believe that kickers and punters are just off in their own world and can't be coached. This is far from the truth!

If the average football coach is asked to coach a new position like defensive backs or running backs than he simply goes somewhere to find drills to make his players better.

Coaching kickers and punters is not much different than coaching defensive backs. You must follow the proper kicking technique and you need an organized structure of drills to help you improve your skill.

Coach Walters flew from Winnipeg, Canada to further develop his knowledge of the kicking game. I met Coach Walters through a mutual friend, Rob Maver, who is one of the top kickers in the CFL and plays for the Calgary Stampeders.

Coach Walters and I took the morning to sit down in a classroom and go over the fundamentals of kicking. We spent time on the chalkboard talking about all different aspects of the kicking game and I learned quite a bit myself. The CFL rules for special teams are vastly different from the American game.

I gave him a drill set for his specialists and a routine for them to use during practice time. This gives the kicking specialists the ability to use their time productively and not wear out a kicker's leg during two a days.

Also, I spent some time on the mental side of the game with him. There are certain ways that practices can be put together so that the kickers and punters can be challenged mentally The mental reps are so valuable for a kicking specialist and putting pressure on a kicker is vital to his success.

Finally, I went on the field and demonstrated the drills for him. This was a great time for him to ask any questions he might have about the drills and I also explained to him what to look for in his kicking specialists.

I had a wonderful time meeting Coach Walters. It was great working with him and I am excited to conduct similar special teams clinics to college and high school coaches across the Southeast and especially in Tennessee!

Check out Coach Walters' Testimonial About the Special Teams Clinic: