Evening star., 1926-10-18

! the punt Will get YOU out OF many
! tight spots. it can likewise get you
into some desirable soft spots.
! Your choice in kicking depends upon
several things. | may mention WIND
that above alb. ground conditions and
temperature.
Othere factors are: Strength of the
opposing defense, position in the field,
number OF downs and yardage to be
gained, the score. remaining time OF
play. ability of your kicker, ability OF
opposing kicker.
Kicker Is Vital.
The Importance of having good
kicker is demonstrated by the advice
given to prospective coaches at the
Summer schools:
Next to the development of quar-
terback, the development Of kicker
| is the most essential thing in building
foot ball team
If you have a good kicker he can
always be used as threat and any
style of play is possible from punt
formation.
TO establish this threat kick on
first and second down few times.
This done early in the game, you can
count on drawing out the defense
every time the kicker goes back. If
lilcN refuse W 81 DoIN, 5O Iii oHSA
with the kick.
Major teams do not alone have one
good kicker. but they try to develop
three and four. The more they have
the better they are equipped for
strategy, particularly il a kicker is
also a good runner, or if, besides these
two qualities. he is able to forward
pass.
| If YOU are fortunate enough to have
strong wind at your back, then the
kicker is bound to give you a wide
advantage You will gain from 10
to Is yards on each exchange of
punts and that in foot ball is a splen-
did break.
Your kicker will get you out of
dangerous situations, if he is capable,
while a poor kicker will get you into
them. Many games have been won on
short kicks by the opposing team;
many have been saved by long punts.
The best punters are those who can
get both distance and direction ana
who can vary their kicks. BY vary
ing, l mean punters who will drive
the ball high or low and deliver both
spiral and nd-over-end kicks. Your
style of kick depends, OF course. upon
your position on the field and the de-
| fense formation, also the ability OF
| If the safety man Is good on re-
| turning punts, your kicker should
never outkick his ends. He should
| kick high enough SO that his ends,
| or end and tackle, can reach the punt
receiver before he gets the ball and
prevent him from returning the KICK;
driven low and with power. to either
side. will be advantageous. II he
tries to handle the ball, he is more
likely than not to tumble it; If he
let's it roll, as many do, then you get
added yardage.
| Strategy in Kicking.
There is plenty of strategy in
kicking. For instance, when you are
near the center of the field, you
should always kick to the corners.
| The punt is used to put your op-
ponents In the worst possible po-
! sition, but you can bring catastrophe
upon yourself by kicking from poor
position. II you happen to have the
ball near the sidelines and kick out.
side, it becomes automatically dead
| and goes to the other team at the
point where it passed over.
Many games have been lost just
| because of a kick of this description.
, In this position your kicker should
always face away from the sidelines
and kick so that the ball cannot pos
sibly go out Of bounds.
The success Of a kicker depends
much upon his center and linemen.
also upon the backs. The pass comes
| from the center. and poor pass will
almost always spoil the kick. The
linemen must be depended upon to
, block the opposing forwards, rushing
in to block and kick. The backs,
| used to protect the kicker from both
sides, must be able to block well.
Linemen and backs prevent the
kicker from being hurried. BY get
ting time to make his kicks. he can
get both distance and direction.
And. in closing. 1 beg to remind
you that you have never seen
great team that lacked a good kicker.
II YOU do not happen to have a
man who can kick you out of tight
spots and kick you into choice spots
you are not going a long way in any
competition OF your own class.
CNext: Forward PasSes.)