Clutch Kickers?

[LVfalconfan]

Just wondering if kickers take experience before they become clutch in tight spots or are naturals?

[ConnFalcon]

Experience is everything.

[Tandy]

A little of both. They have to have the physical skills and then they have to learn technique and finally - they have to practice.

They also have to study the stadium - both sides where they will be playing - and learn to adjust for wind or other factors.

[Rai]

Experience mainly but there is some natural talent there where they can stay cool and not crunch under pressure in game-winning moments. They tend to build on that natural talent though with experience. But sometimes, experience just doesn't cut it.

51 yard field goal, losing 28-27. You get the last touch of the superbowl game. It's all on your leg. You've never faced this type of pressure before; it now comes down to your innate ability to keep cool, concentrate and make that kick. Your heart starts beating too loud, it becomes harder to concentrate. You then start manually breathing. Your breaths are short and rough. Before you know it, you're blinking manually, a little too fast and this puts you off. Your feet get tingly as you take your position. Miss this and regret it forever. Too many things going through your mind. It's a wet pitch, keep that standing leg firm. You then realise that the crowd starts roaring. The opposition is giving you mean looks and taunts trying to mess up your timing. As you're ready to kick, alarming whistles make your heart jump. Timeout taken by the opposing team. More time to have all these thoughts rushing through your head. You've got to hit it high enough so the blockers don't get a chance to deflect it incase the protection slightly gives way but you don't want to hit it too high that it sacrifices distance. Got to kick it quick enough too before the speedy players coming off the edge manages to dive for a block. Rehearse the snap count with the holder and hope you get everything done in sync. There's got to be perfect synergy between the long snapper, holder and kicker. The goal posts do look quite far away actually when you look a second time. You've made this in practice before; why the **** are you starting to doubt yourself?

It's all on you, son. Set. Hut.

[norbendon]

I think it has to do with the mental makeup of a person. There are people out there who panic at the slightest bit of pressure. There are people who can handle varying degrees of it. Then there are the very select few in this world, who thrive on pressure. They love it. They excell in those situations because that's what they live for. Kicker, QB, or whatever. I think it's the mentality that you're either born with or develop as a child. Some people might call it "it". You can find these people in all walks of life. Sometimes it's that guy at work that is able to handle a million different things while everyone else is losing their tempers.