Punt kick - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

The Punt kick is a common style of kicking in football games. It is described as kicking the ball without the ball first hitting the ground. It is practiced in many sports to some degree: Australian rules football

Australian rules football

Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...

, American & Canadian football

Punt (football)

In some codes of football, a punt is a play in which a player drops the ball and kicks it before it touches the ground. A punt is in contrast to a drop kick, in which the ball touches the ground before being kicked....

, rugby league

Rugby league

Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...

, and rugby union

Rugby union

Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...

. It is also a common means for an association football goalkeeper

Goalkeeper (football)

In association football, the goalkeeper occupies a position that represents the last line of defence between the opponent's offence and his own team's goal. The primary role of the goalkeeper is to defend his team's goal and prevent the opposition from scoring a goal...

to play the ball up-field (being the only player entitled to handle and, therefore, able to punt), although they often drop kick

Drop kick

A drop kick is a type of kick in various codes of football. It involves a player dropping the ball and then kicking it when it bounces off the ground. It contrasts to a punt, wherein the player kicks the ball without letting it hit the ground first....

, throw, or simply place the ball on the ground and kick it as if they were an outfield player.

Australian rules football

Australian rules football

Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...

uses the kick more than any other code of football. This has led to Australian rules players to play for other football codes, particularly to become American football specialist punters (See Players who have converted from one football code to another

Players who have converted from one football code to another

There are many players who have converted from one football code to another or even changed from other sports at a professional or representational level....

Execution

To punt accurately and well, players need to have good balance and timing. First, the kicker points the ball in the direction in which he wants the kick to go. The ball is held at waist height and at arm's length away from the body. The ball is held at a 45° angle to the axis of the foot.

To kick with the right foot, the ball is held underneath with the right hand close to the body and the left hand farthest away at the top and the side of the ball. For a left-footed kick, hands are exchanged, right hand below the left. The hands create a channel through which to kick the ball. With the ball at waist height, the ball is released and guided down with the hand on the same side as the kicking foot. Contact is made in the center of the ball, with the toes pointed down, just above the boot laces with the ankle extended and the hard upper bridge of the foot to impart full power.

Kicking on the run gives less control over the football; players are taught to slow down and steady themselves prior to kicking. The kick concludes with a high follow-through, with the foot above head height. The kicking leg should remain straight, and the toes pointed.

In flight, a punted football remains flat, i.e. with the longer axis roughly parallel to the ground. It does not rotate end-over-end as a drop punt

Drop punt

A drop punt is a type of kick in various codes of football.It is the primary method of disposing the ball by foot in Australian rules football and the name describes its technique. The ball is held vertically, and dropped and kicked before it hits the ground, resulting in the ball spinning...

would. However, a poorly executed punt kick, known in Australian rules football

Australian rules football

Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...

as a helicopter punt (or sometimes mongrel punt) may gyrate flatly in the air, reminiscent of the rotor of a helicopter.

Execution

See also