2010 Texas Kicking Camp Re-Cap
I just got back from our 2010 Texas Kicking Camp at Travis High School in Austin Texas. It was a HOT weekend with temperatures hitting 100+ degrees on the field on Sunday! The football camp had kickers and punters in attendance from as far away as the tip of Oklahoma, Dallas and West Texas. It’s always a pleasure being in Texas- the southern hospitality and the warmth and friendliness of the people is very welcoming. Kicking World goes out to Texas every year to hold a kicking camp and we may even be coming back twice a year for a camp in Austin and Dallas and private kicking lessons based on the increasing requests from parents in Texas.
While the camp was one of our smaller camps with 10 students in attendance; there was nothing small about the talent! We had kickers hitting 45+ yard field goals into the wind and kickoffs a few yards deep in the end zone. Many of the students were beginners who have just started kicking in the last year or so. By the end of the camp everyone improved greatly whether it was learning how to make solid contact consistently or perfecting their ‘hurdle’ follow through on kickoffs or acing their pop-up onside kicks. Each of our students were able to quickly implement what was taught. I find that the smaller kicking camps of less than 20 participants tend to produce quicker results because there is more ‘1 on 1’ time with each student.
A trip to Texas is not complete unless you get some Barbecue! I always make a stop at Rudy’s BBQ. This year I ate their famous BBQ beef briscuit and baby back ribs. Man do I miss Rudy’s!
Enough of the food talk and on to the competition results! At our camp this year we broke out the competitions into 3 age groups. We had the 13, 14 and 15 year olds in one group, 16 year olds in one group, and the 17 year olds in another group. As we always do- our camp is focused on instruction but at the end of each phase (field goals, punting, kickoffs) we hold a kicking competition. The field goal competition showed excellent kicking skills from all and in particular Chris Nichols of Vista Ridge HS, Austin Barton of Cypress Christian and Cory Patton of Vista Ridge HS. In the punting competition one student pulled ahead with an easy victory with a 47.5 yard net punt average. The kickoff competition was an exciting duel with Cory Patton of Vista Ridge HS and Anthony Firth (college) going into double over-time where Cory ultimately closed the deal with a 67 yard bomber.
A special thanks goes out to all the generous parents who helped with the ‘camp essentials’, the ball-shagging during the camp and for the great photos and video you all took! It was a pleasure meeting everyone at the camp and I’m really looking forward to coming out to Texas again soon. Check the website and blog with updates and news about any upcoming kicking camps in Texas. I may also be flying out to Austin TX very soon to hold private lessons. Have a great rest of your summer and best wishes for a successful football season! Please remember me next time you’re at Rudy’s!
