— Coach Crocker —

There just aren’t enough specialist coaches around to allow the filming of the specialist and to have much value to the specialist. I have spoken to more than just a few specialists who have told me that they simply don’t have a coach that could help them evaluate film. So in this section, I’ll try to put together a simple process that will allow a specialist to self evaluate film of his performances.

Here is a simple process for you to follow:

1. Build your goal menu
2. Benchmark
3. Calibrate
4. Adjust
5. Evaluate
6. Compare

1. Build your goal menu.
   Perhaps your coach has worked with you on the things he would like to see you do when you kick or punt. He has given you a technique that will optimize your personal strengths, natural tendencies and physical makeup. Document this. Create a checklist for yourself of all those things that you have been working on. For instance, as a kicker, you may have a list similar to this:
   1. Head position
   2. Inside shoulder position
   3. Outside shoulder position
   4. Torso angle at impact
   5. Plant foot position
   6. Leg lock position
   7. Hand positions
   8. Follow through
   9. Steps
   10. Etc...
   
   You get the idea. You need to be aware of what your goals are, so that you can write them down and study them. Refresh yourself often with what you are trying to accomplish. Part of your practice routine will be to recognize your technique goals before you begin. While you are stretching before practice, you are going over these goals in your mind. These are the same things that you are going to look for in your film.



2. Benchmark.
   Watch film of your best kicks. Using the same menu when you built your goal list, compare the positions on your film with the positions that are on your goal list. Monitor those positions to document and chart progress toward the goals you and your coach have set for you.



3. Calibrate.
   Measure and record the positions of each body part for each kick. You will see what positions lend themselves to your best kicks. These are the optimal positions for you. There is no single best position that is the same for all kickers or punters. Each specialist has to find the best body positions for him. With body positions calibrated, you can now change one position at a time, or only the positions you choose to tinker with on any given kick.



4. Adjust.
   Now that you have ‘Benchmarked’ and ‘Calibrated’, you can make adjustments to you goals and technique. Refine your ‘Goal Menu’ so that you now have an optimized standard to shoot for. Your coach should be the architect of your ‘Goal Menu’ and the adjustments that will work for you. But, in the absence of a specialist coach, you need to be able to make these adjustments on your own. You should have a third party to help with the analysis and adjustments because a third party can have a more objective perspective.



5. Evaluate.
   You have Benchmarked, Calibrated, and Adjusted. Now, evaluate the effect of your ‘Adjustments’ and your new ‘Goal Menu’ over time and over a quantity of kicks. What are your new tendencies? Do you have a tendency for your ball to go right or left? Do your punts turn over or spin tighter? Do your punts have a slight wobble now? Is the trajectory of your punts steeper? Consider all of these perspectives as you search for your perfect technique.



6. Compare.
   How have the changes you have made improved your effectiveness? Over sets of 25 kicks or punts, how have the changes you have made affected your performance? Are you more accurate? Or are you longer? Has your combination hang time/distance improved?

          — Coach Crocker —