Are all (USA) football kickers soccer-style now?

[Dennis S]

I remember Lou Groza and the shock when it started, I guess, in the late-70s. I think I saw a high-school kicker on the news who kicked straight.

I used to be able to kick straight-on, but can't begin to kick soccer-style.

[MEG]

I think it's been that way in the NFL for a long time -- Mark Mosely of the Redskins was the last straight-on kicker that I can recall. He last played in 1986.

PS - Pete Gogolak of the Giants kicked soccer style in the 60's. One of, if not the first, to do so.

[Petro]

Pretty much, yeah. Its allot more accurate then kicking straight on because you hit the ball with a flatter surface (the top of your foot as apposed to the tip of your foot). Its also, arguably, a more powerful kicking style because you can get your whole body into it, the longer backswing of your leg allows your foot to be at a higher velocity when it comes in contact with the ball etc. I've heard of a couple studies done on the soccer style kick (try googling it).

btw, I was the kicker for my highschool team (as well as Offensive Guard and Defensive Tackle) and kicked soccer style yet never played soccer outside of gym class when I was in grade school. It just felt more fluid, powerful, accurate and easier then kicking straight on. Stopped kicking in college to become a full time Defensive lineman, especially since we had a guy who could reach the back of the end zone without breaking a sweat while my best was 4 yards into the end zone.

--Petro

[davester]

So what exactly is an american-football-style kick? From Petro's post it sounds like it is a toe kick, which frankly sounds ridiculous to me. I've coached soccer for many years and it's always been very clear that toe kicks lack accuracy and power.

[Petro]

davester, please re-read my post (but more carefully this time). I did not say that that American-Football (NFL etc) kickers employ a toe style kick. On the contrary I said that it is a soccer (side/top of foot) style kick.

--Petro

[davester]

I was keying on this statement "(the top of your foot as apposed to the tip of your foot)". I thought you meant that they had switched from a toe-type kick to a "new" soccer-style kick. I'm still not sure what the pre-soccer style kick is.

[spearmint]

[quote MEG]I think it's been that way in the NFL for a long time -- Mark Mosely of the Redskins was the last straight-on kicker that I can recall. He last played in 1986.

PS - Pete Gogolak of the Giants kicked soccer style in the 60's. One of, if not the first, to do so.
Wikepedia agrees on Mark Mosely.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Field_goal_(football)

[spearmint]

This just in! Steve Cox of the Redskins who only kicked long field goals kicked the last straight on goal. Hows this for trivia. Doug Flutie kicked the last drop kick field goal (same article.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Field_goal_...head_style

[Petro]

[quote davester]I was keying on this statement "(the top of your foot as apposed to the tip of your foot)". I thought you meant that they had switched from a toe-type kick to a "new" soccer-style kick. I'm still not sure what the pre-soccer style kick is. The tip of your foot is the part with your toes on it. The top of the foot is where your laces are.

pre-soccer style kick is standing 5 yards straight behind the ball (so the ball is inline between you and the goal), running up to the ball and kicking it. The part of your foot that makes contact is your toes. Soccer style is standing about 5 yards behind and 5 yards to the left (or right depending on if your left or right handed) of the ball (so the ball is offset between you and the goal). Running up to the ball and kicking it. The part of your foot that makes contact is the inside/top of your foot where the inside row of holes are for your laces. Thats basically it.

--Petro

[Scooter]

I kicked one today...soccer style. Put it thought the uprights at 15 yards....not a chance at 25.