The 5 Drills Every Kicker Should Master by Age 16

If you're a serious specialist aiming for varsity reps, scholarships, or just confidence under pressure, you need more than raw leg strength — you need sharp fundamentals. These five drills sharpen every part of your form and lay the foundation for college-level success.

✅ Drill #1: Target Net Drill

Skill Focus: Ball Flight + Accuracy

Set up cones or hang objects (like shirts or towels) across the goal posts or net. Your mission: hit five specific zones in a row — center, left upright, right upright, high middle, low center. This teaches control, not just power.

Bonus Tip: Track how many kicks it takes to hit all 5.

✅ Drill #2: 1-Step Drill

Skill Focus: Tempo + Contact

Strip your form down. One step forward into the ball. No full approach, just balance and ball contact. This is where good swing tempo is built. Start with 10–15 reps before full-approach kicks.

Why It Matters: Great kicks start with great reps, not fast ones.

✅ Drill #3: Perfect Laces Drill

Skill Focus: Timing + Ball Rotation

Have a holder place the ball so the laces are NOT facing forward. Your goal: land your plant foot in perfect position to kick laces. If you don’t, the holder will rotate it post-snap — just like in real games.

Learn This Early: Your plant foot decides your contact.

✅ Drill #4: No-Step Drill

Skill Focus: Foot-to-Ball Precision

Stand next to the ball in your final plant position — and kick from there. This isolates your swing path and ball strike. If you’re missing left or right from this drill, your swing line needs work.

Coaching Cue: Keep head down. Compress the ball. No flinching.

✅ Drill #5: Pressure Ladder Drill

Skill Focus: Game-Day Mentality + Consistency

Start at the 20-yard line. Hit a kick. If you make it, back up 5 yards. If you miss, restart from 20. Work your way back as far as you can go without missing two in a row. Track your max distance reached under pressure.

Why It Works: Simulates in-game pressure, builds focus, and creates urgency in each rep. No casual kicking — every ball counts.

Final Thoughts:

These aren’t just “cute drills.” These are high-performance tools for athletes serious about their craft. By mastering these five early on, you set yourself up for ranking camps, college exposure, and game-day dominance.