Today, Monday May 10, 2010 Vincent Pagazza a 44 year old athlete was here in Scottsdale, Arizona for a One on One Kicking Lesson.
Vincent contacted me a couple of months ago by email and phone inquiring about some One on One Kicking Lessons to help him improve his kicking game. He felt he was kicking OK but knew he had to take his game to the next level in order to fulfill his dream of kicking in the NFL.
After talking to him during several phone calls and today working with him during a One on One Kicking Lesson I could see this man was on a mission. He played soccer in high school and kicked for his high school football team and was a star athlete but did not kick for approximately 25 years.
If you would like to hear or read more about Vincent Pagazza's career and mission to kick in the NFL you can click on either link to his website or blog: Welcome to Vincent's World or Click to View his Blog.
Today's One on One Lesson with Vincent Pagazza: Vincent warmed up and started kicking field goals from about the 30 yard line. He didn't do any drill work but just started kicking.
As he warmed up I thought he had some pretty good form. As he continued to kick I notice that Vincent just like many kickers had two or three different types of swings.
As Vincent continued to kick I asked several questions and found out how much he really knew about kicking or how he had been coached. Vincent was kicking OK but he gave me some answers that really gave me insight into why he had a couple of different swing thoughts.
Vincent's biggest problems were foot position on the ball and hitting the sweet spot. Being a former soccer player he was kicking field goals like he use to pass a soccer ball with a relaxed foot. He kicked several field goals to the left because of poor foot position on the ball.
As we continued the lesson I worked with Vincent on his steps, alignment, approach, perfect plant and foot position on the ball. All these fundamentals are paramount to a kickers success.
Eventually, Vincent started hitting some excellent field goals about 53 to 55 yards and directly down the middle. I told him that to have any type of chance to make any professional football team a kicker in today's world has to be able to kick field goals that distance or more and with regularity to catch the eye of an NFL Coach or Scout.
Vincent started to get a little frustrated as we moved back because he wasn't kicking the ball the same way. Just like most kickers, Vincent got away from kicking with good technique and went to trying to kick harder.
During my One on One Lessons with Sebastain Janikowski (Raiders), Garrett Hartley (Saints), Billy Cundiff (Ravens) and Josh Scobee (Jaguars) I emphasize kicking under control and with good technique and perfect foot to ball contact.
Vincent kicked with good technique some of the time and other times he was just swinging for the fences. Too hard and out of control.
Vincent brought a video crew to tape the lesson and the video review and to get an interview. Vincent has a passion and is on a mission.
Like all specialists that come to Scottsdale, Arizona for a One on One Lesson, I work to make them better and educate them on how to get better. Good fundamentals and drills is the key to every ones success.
Vincent now knows what he needs to do to get better. He must get more consistent with his foot position on the ball to hit the sweet spot and must kick with more consistency to have any chance to catch a NFL or UFL Coaches eye.
The best kickers have excellent tempo, rhythm and are fundamentally sound and kick with One stroke or swing and that is why they are professionals.
Click below to listen to Vincent Pagazza's Testimonial after working a One on One Lesson with Coach Zauner in Scottsdale, Arizona.
It was great meeting and working with Vincent and I wish him the best of luck in his quest to be a professional kicker.Stay Tuned for More of Coach Zauner's Blog!
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