The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-10-12
SAYS 60 PER CENT
Of HARD CONTESTS
LOST BY PUNY|NC
Coed Punting Comes From Pre-.
cision on Part Of Kicker
and Other Things
FORWARD WALL IMPORTANT
Line Must Play Tightly and Hold
Long Enough to Give Kick
er Enough Time
BY BILL SPACLDING
Coach, University CT California at
Les Angeles

Les AUgeleS
Los Angeles, Oct. l2.--Looking back
over the records Of last season, I find
that about 60 per cent OF the close
games were won or lost through errors
In getting off punts.
Good punting comes from precision
on the part of the kicker as well as
a number Of other things. He must
get his kicks away clean. The toe
must be extended or depressed to the
proper angle-the ball has to be held
and tilted correctly. If the ball Is
released from the hands too soon,
anything might happen-from a wab-
bly, slant to enc side to a short high
kick or low one which will be
blocked. A good kicker seldom takes
more than a step and a half in get
ting away the punt.
X x X
Behavior OF the forward wall is
very important. The line. should play
fairly tight. with the ends out accord
ing to what defense might be used. In
case the kicker takes more than one
or two steps and is slow in getting his
kicks away, the line must hold longer
before going down under the kick.
If the kicker is right footed
kicker he needs more protection Oh
the right side, SO that probably about
two backs will be used on that side
and the third back on the left side.
These backs must be rugged enough
and clever enough to withstand any
charge on the part OF the tackles and
ENDS against the punter.
Scouts are sent out to detect weak
nesses in the kicker and in the system
of protection that is used for him. SO
that when game is won by blocked
kick, it is not always the result of an
accident. 1t often comes from we'll
conceived plan Of defense.
X * X
The coach may have various meth
DDS of breaking up kicking game
He may shift his linemen to get two
or more men against one and block
the kick, or he may build up a run
back" especially If he has a depend
able safety man-one who is alert and
shifty ard has the ability to take adj
vantage of his interference.
III case this run back is used. the
linemen try to smother the forwards
of the kicking side-thus keeping
them from getting down under the
kicker until he gets the ball we'll under
way for good gain.
Many games are won as the result
of a well-placed quick kick or q. sur
prise kick. To be effective, quick
kick should come from a close for
nation and when the opposing safety
man comes up too close. It often Is
used against teams employing the box
or square defense, especially where
there is no safety man over Is yards
back.
A good quick kick should be high
enough to clear completely the safety
mans head or low and to one side
Many games are won by putting the
opponents in the hole" through q
well-placed quick kick.
These should come in the early
downs-particularly Oh the first or
second down, when they are least eX-
ipected.
Another valuable asset to a foot
ball team is kicker who can place
his kicks, keeping them well away
from the dangerous safety man OF
kicking them out Of bounds close to
the goal line.
Some coaches depend on q kicking
game almost entirely-coupled with
Ia good defense. The late Andy Smith
believed in this type Of football ano
with good kickers on his squad and q
great defensive line, kicked anc
waited for the breaks.
No matter what type OF game !!
played, it is necessary that a lot o.
time be given on getting away kicks
At least an hour or two week shoule
be expended in practicing on punts.
would say that if coach had les!
material than the other fellows, hi
could 90 no better than to develop tw<
or three good kickers and work VI
a strong defense.