My kicking career began my senior year of high school. I played soccer my entire life and planned to play in college. Because my high school team was so successful and my dad thought I might be good, I decided to give kicking a try. In the beginning the only thing I had going for me was a strong leg; my technique and consistency were terrible.

When I moved on to playing at UC Berkeley, I was fortunate to get some good coaching from Steve Mariucci (now head coach of the 49ers) and Gary Zauner (now special teams coach for the Minnesota Vikings). After I learned the proper basic techniques, I could begin the arduous task of transforming myself from a soccer player kicking a football to a real placekicker. It took many years of hard work, but I definitely feel like it all paid off.

The techniques I outline on this site and on my CD-ROM (it goes into a lot more detail) are the basic fundamentals that I feel are important for every kicker to utilize. I learned these techniques over the course of my career and have made them an integral part of the way I kick. There is no one proper kicking style (as many coaches like to tell you); however, these basic fundamentals need to be integrated into your own individual style.

The instructions I give for placekicking on this site are in three parts:

• Beginner
• Intermediate
• Advanced

 

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	When you find that burning flame within yourself, action becomes facilitated in athletics, in playing a musical piece on the piano, or in performance of any kind. If you hold to that still place within yourself while engaged in the field, your performance will be masterly. That's what the Samurai does. And the real athlete.
	-- Joseph Campbell

Doug and Tommy's Frequently Asked Questions: "I am having a little trouble on my kickoffs. I can kick the ball further sometimes on a field goal than on my kick off even though I'm further back. I practice constantly but nothing works. Help!" -- Click here to read our answer