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Friday, August 30, 2013

Boys Named Alex Will Become Kickers

I'm sure there isn't a real correlation to this statement at all, but in the Midwest, boys who are named Alex will become kickers, or even Tyler.


Future Football Kicker? Photo from J.Otte Photography (found on Google)


Two months ago, my wife and I were starting to think of names for our "boy to be" that is due to be born around November 1st.  For inspiration on names to consider, I went to my cell phone address book and even my friends list on Facebook to get inspired. 

As I was going through my cell phone and Facebook lists of friends, I started noticing a trend of similar and repeat names of specialists that I was training.  Which made me think and wonder what the most common name of the kickers, punters, and snappers I was training were named.


Kicker Alexi Johnson
Turns out that in my last 3 years of training specialists, the most common name for kids I've trained are specialists named Alex.  And I have 10 of them!  This list includes Alex (6), Alec (3) and Alexi (1).  It's unreal.  The second most common name is Tyler at 5 and then Justin.

According to ESPN's 2012 Statistics, the most common kicker/punter name in the NFL is Matt with 4 (Prater, Bryant, Bosher & Mat McBriar) followed by Mike with 3 (Scifres, Nugent, Koenen).


Snapper Alex Dequaine
The moral of the story is that if you name your child Alex/Alec or Alexi in the Minnesota/Midwest area, you have a high likelihood that they will want to kick, punt or snap a football!

So if you name him Alex, Tyler or Justin, please give me a call :)

Have a great day!

Chris Husby 
Professional Kicking Coach and Owner
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CoachHusby@gmail.com
651-353-2660


Wednesday, August 28, 2013

8th Grade Kicker Becomes Varsity Football Starter

I'm very proud to announce a FIRST for Special Teams Football Academy.  This may even be a first in the state of Minnesota or even Nationwide in 'modern time' of high school football kicking.

Aaron Salmon, an 8th grader, I've been training just this summer and winter, made the Varsity team as their kicker for Mankato Loyola (MN)!

I always felt that Aaron was a gifted kicker and punter for his age and was going to have a bright future based on how he was kicking as just an 8th grader. But I was extremely proud (and not necessarily surprised) to hear he made Varsity as their kicker.

In our lesson just last week (08/16/13) he kicked his personal best Field Goal at 41 yards.  Then later that week he connected on a 41 yard Field Goal in practice with live snap and hold.

Even as a punter he averages close to 28-30 yards a punt with a 3.3-3.5 sec hang time at our lessons.

He's developed very good mechanics as a kicker and punter so far.  He has great balance, strong leg speed and a great follow through.  I believe he has the maturity and focus to handle kicking pressures at the varsity level.  It will be exciting to see how his first year goes.  It will be a learning experience for him, of which he will be able to learn from for years to come.

Some may say that a 41 yard Field Goal range isn't that far, but it's extremely far for an 8th grader.  Also a very small percentage of High School football programs attempt Field Goals in games long than 40 yards.  As Aaron develops more his distance will come and Mankato Loyola kicking camp will become something to watch out for.

Special Teams Football Academy kickers are making history!


Here are a few videos of him kicking last week at our 1 on 1 lesson:
2 Consecutive 41 yard Field Goals
10 Consecutive 30 yard Field Goals 


To become the Best, you MUST train with the BEST.  Contact Special Teams Football Academy today!

Coach Chris Husby

Professional Kicking Coach and Owner
Follow us on Twitter.
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CoachHusby@gmail.com
651-353-2660

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

LeCorre Named To MN Preseason Dream Team

I am very excited to announce that Junior Edina High School (MN) Kicker, Patrick Lecorre, was named to the MN Football Hub "Preseason Dream Team" today. 

To see the full list of the "Preseason Dream Team" athletes and read the article, click here.  



Patrick and I started training together after his freshman year.  His first and only start as a freshman was during the first round of the section playoffs, of which he kicked the game winning field goal for his team.  He then won the starting kicking spot as a Sophomore and has since really developed into one of the top kickers in Minnesota as well as becoming a top kicker nationally in his class. 

I'm really proud of the kicker he has developed to be.



Here are some statistics, videos and articles to learn more about Patrick LeCorre:

As a Sophomore he kicked 13 of 20 (3 blocked) field goals with a long of 46 yards.  He had a 57 yard kickoff average.  He went 25-27 PATs (1 block).  This season earned him 'All State Honorable Mention' as well as All Conference and Special Teams Player of the Year at Edina.  His 13 field goals earned him a spot 'Tied for 2nd' in the Minnesota Football Record Books with the most field goals made in 1 season as well as having his 14 career Field Goals rank him 7th overall in career Field Goals made.

2012 Class of Minnesota's Bombers

He's ranked as the14th best Field Goal kicker in the Nation for the Class of 2015 according to National Camp Series as well as being ranking highly on Kohls and Sailers recruiting lists.


Here are a few links to learn more about Patrick.

2012 Highlight Film
National Camp Series Ratings
2012 Top Tier All American- 1st team 
2012 & 2013 Class of Minnesota's Bombers


Celebrating after kicking the Game Winning Field Goal in the playoffs as a Freshman

Coach Chris Husby
Professional Kicking Coach and Owner
Follow us on Twitter.
Subscribe to our YouTube Videos.
CoachHusby@gmail.com
651-353-2660
 
 

Zero Week- Special Teams Player of the Week

Zero Week is the week that is leading up to the first official week of the high school season.  It's a chance for teams who may have had trouble scheduling a game during the season, to play a game during the preseason.  There were only 11 games in MN going on during "Zero Week."  This year we have more specialists reporting and that we trained, so we will be awarding a TOP Kicker and Punter each week as well as Top Collegiate Athlete.

Our High School Prep Co-Athlete Special Teams Players of the Week are Perry Smith of Minnetonka and Louis Hartzog of Chaska. Both kicked 5 for 5 on their PATs.

Top Punter
  • Jason Witherspoon- 4 punts for 142 total yards with a 35.5 yard punt average.

Ryan Weese
But the most impressive performance was done by Ryan Weese of Hutchinson Community College

Top Collegiate Specialist of the Week-
Ryan Weese- 5 for 5 on PATs and 3 for 3 on Field goals (27, 31, 28)- for a total of 14 points.

Congratulations everyone!

Coach Chris Husby
Professional Kicking Coach and Owner
Follow us on Twitter.
Subscribe to our YouTube Videos.
CoachHusby@gmail.com
651-353-2660

Thursday, August 8, 2013

STFA To Host Colorado National Camp Series (NCS) Divisional Kicking Camp

San Diego, CA (Press Release) August 08, 2013 


Special Teams Football Academy will host a National Camp Series (NCS) Divisional Kicking Camp for high school kickers, punters and snappers, in Colorado Springs, on August 10, 2013 according to Camp Director Chris Husby.

“There’s a lot of great talent in Colorado,” says Husby. “I am looking forward working with these young kicking specialists and helping them reach their kicking goals. Colorado certainly has the potential to be a “hot bed” of kicking talent for college coaches to recruit from.”

Go here for more information about Special Teams Football Academy’s NCS Divisional Kicking Camp being held in Colorado Springs, on August 10, 2013.

Husby, who is the owner and head instructor of Special Teams Football Academy, started kicking at the age of 12 and worked his way to punting in college and as an NFL Free Agent; something he has been perfecting ever since.

In 2012 Husby was named Head Kicking Coach for the National Camp Series All-Midwest Regional and Tournament Team. He was also one of the "featured coaches" at the NCS "Super Kicking Camp VI. In addition, he was also "Nike Coach of the Year" Clinic Speaker on "The Kicking Game."
Kicking coach Michael Husted, who created the National Camp Series (NCS) after kicking in the NFL for 9 years, says having kicking coaches like Chris Husby attest to the quality of coaches at NCS events.

“NCS Associates are some of the best kicking coaches in the country,” says Husted. “NCS coaches provide the highest quality instruction to high school kicking specialists around the country.”
“Chris Husby is an excellent kicking coach,” says Husted. “He helped me with the NCS Super Camp in Florida earlier this year. I’m looking forward to working with him on all his NCS Divisional Kicking Camps in 2013.”



"2012 shaped up to be the best year yet for the National Camp Series,” says Husted. “We introduced our Kicking IndeX (KIX) Player Rating System and are positioned extremely well in 2013 to leverage analytics to showcase our athletes, and provide objective high school kicking specialists’ statistics, to college and university coaches.”

Husted says that by utilizing its Kicking IndeX (KIX) Player Rating System, NCS provides an objective evaluation platform for student-athletes who want to showcase their capabilities to colleges and universities for recruiting purposes.

By sorting through over six years of historical event data, Husted says the KIX system determines a kicker’s rankings by cross-referencing player data to determine how the athletes stack up against others, both presently and historically.

"The NCS levels the playing field for those who don't want to get caught up in all of the 'politics' that occurs in the kicking industry,” says Husted. “If you can kick, punt or snap, the NCS KIX system will let a young kicking specialist’s skills speak for themselves. No excuses. No explanations."



Go here for more information about Special Teams Football Academy’s NCS Divisional Kicking Camp being held in Colorado Springs, on August 10, 2013.

Go here for more information about the National Camp Series




Monday, August 5, 2013

Colorado National Camp Series Football Kicking Camp- August 10

Special Teams Football Academy will be running the National Camp Series (NCS) kicking camp in Colorado (and the Midwest) in August. Former NFL free agent specialist Chris Husby and Current NFL Free Agent kicker Jordan Wettstein of Special Teams Football Academy will head the camp on Saturday, August 10th at the Cheyenne Mountain High School, in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Great Stadium & Facility
It will be an (NCS) evaluation and instructional camp.  The instructional focus will be on preparing the specialists as a Kicking/Punting/Snapping unit before 2-a-days start.  If you have any specialists (Kickers, Punters and Snappers) that could use some additional instruction before camp starts or have specialists interested in being evaluated on their abilities, this is the camp for you!   The camp will have 2.5 hours of evaluation and 2 hours of instruction.  Specialists can also sign up for the INSTRUCTION ONLY CLINIC through the link below.  Reserve a spot for the Aug 10 camp today: Sign Up.
Turf Field with beautiful mountainous backdrop
The National Camp Series' KIX (Kicking IndeX) Player Ratings are OBJECTIVELY based upon the data that they have collected for several years. Having been able to capture the statistics from their results for specialists in the kicking game, they rate our athletes in each of the following:
  • Field Goals
  • Kick Offs
  • Punts
  • Long Snaps
Using the Kix Rating System, campers have the opportunity to showcase their talent through the NCS charting layout.
Detailed Instruction
In conjunction with the morning NCS Evaluation camp, Special Teams Football Academy will be running a Top Tier All American Evaluation too.  Utilizing the NCS evaluation as part of the evaluation process, specialists will be evaluated in the afternoon through a second set of kicks and charts, in an opportunity to showcase how well rounded of a kicker, punter and long snapper you are.  For more information on the Top Tier All American Kicking Camps, visit TopTierAllAmerican.com.  Specialists that chart well in both the NCS testing and Top Tier testing will earn a spot on the coveted Top Tier All American Watch List, which will be promoted to EVERY College Football Program in the Nation.



National Camp Series (NCS Only) Camp Registration: Here & Full Camp (NCS & Top Tier Kicking Camp) Registration: Here.


Click here for camp itinerary.
Consistent Evaluation
NCS has collected this data and separated it based on grade level (6th through 12th).  At the same time, the final NCS KIX Player Ratings are compared to our College division (rising high school seniors, junior college and college transfers).  NCS does this so that student-athletes have a goal to reach to demonstrate to colleges that they have the ability to kick at the next level. Any more information on the KIX system can be found here.

CAMP ITINERARY: (Subject to Change based on camp size)
 
8:30-9:00 Registration (Players receive shirts)
9:00-9:15 Camp Welcome (Parents & Players)
9:30-11:30 NCS Evaluations (On Field)

11:30-1:30 Instruction
(Instruction & Drill work)
- Free 2 hours of instruction for all NCS/Top Tier Participants. You may also sign up for the "instruction only."
1:30-2:30 Lunch/Break (Players provide own lunch)
2:30-4:30 Top Tier All American Evaluation Part 2
(On Field)
4:30-5:30 Instruction (Further Instruction for full day camp participants)

5:30-5:45 Camp Closure (Final Comments, Awards) 


Full Camp (NCS, Instruction Only & Top Tier Kicking Camp) Registration: Here.
Showcase your skill level
On top of the KIX rating system, campers will also have the opportunity to work one on one with the coaches in an instructional period following the charting and rating. The beauty of NCS camps is that students don't show up, chart, receive a shirt and leave. Everyone camper will have to opportunity to take something home with them to work on through detailed instruction from Chris Husby and Jordan Wettstein.  All camp staff members are current or former NFL Free Agent kickers and punters and have all trained at a high level.
Coach Chris Husby
To learn more about Coach Husby and Jordan Wettstein, click here.
Don't miss out on an opportunity to showcase your talent, as well as receive great instruction from some of the best coaches available in the country. For more information on the camp and registration, register Here.

If you'd like to schedule out a lesson or attend the full day camp, contact Chris at CoachHusby@gmail.com or 651-353-2660. 

We hope to see you there!

 -Coach Chris Husby 
Professional Kicking Coach and Owner
Follow us on Twitter.
Subscribe to our YouTube Videos.
CoachHusby@gmail.com
651-353-2660

Thursday, August 1, 2013

Crazy Kicking Stories of the 2013 Year

Below you will find some of the wilder special teams stories of the 2013 football seasons.  We will add stories as we find them.


  1. High School Football Double Punt Block TD 
  2. NFL Exploring 42 yard PAT in 2014 NFL Preseason Games
If you come across any fun and unique stories, please email coachhusby@gmail.com


Chris Husby
Professional Kicking Coach and Owner
Special Teams Football Academy 

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CoachHusby@gmail.com 
651-353-2660


Last 2013 Summer National Camp Series Football Kicking Camp



Special Teams Football Academy will be running the last Summer National Camp Series (NCS) evaluation camp in Minnesota (and the Midwest) in August. Former NFL free agent specialist Chris Husby of Special Teams Football Academy will head the camp on Sunday, August 4th at Lakeville South High School. 

Showcase your skill level

It will be an (NCS) evaluation and instructional camp.  The instructional focus will be on preparing the specialists as a Kicking/Punting/Snapping unit before 2-a-days start.  If you have any specialists (Kickers, Punters and Snappers) that could use some additional instruction before camp starts or have specialists interested in being evaluated on their abilities, this is the camp for you!   The camp will have 2.5 hours of evaluation and 90 minutes of instruction.  Specialists can also sign up for the INSTRUCTION ONLY CLINIC through the link below.
Detailed Instruction

The National Camp Series' KIX (Kicking IndeX) Player Ratings are OBJECTIVELY based upon the data that they have collected for several years. Having been able to capture the statistics from their results for specialists in the kicking game, they rate our athletes in each of the following:
  • Field Goals
  • Kick Offs
  • Punts
  • Long Snaps
Using the Kix Rating System, campers have the opportunity to showcase their talent through the NCS charting layout. 

Consistent Evaluation

NCS has collected this data and separated it based on grade level (6th through 12th).  At the same time, the final NCS KIX Player Ratings are compared to our College division (rising high school seniors, junior college and college transfers).  NCS does this so that student-athletes have a goal to reach to demonstrate to colleges that they have the ability to kick at the next level. Any more information on the KIX system can be found here.

On top of the KIX rating system, campers will also have the opportunity to work one on one with the coaches in an instructional period following the charting and rating. The beauty of NCS camps is that students don't show up, chart, receive a shirt and leave. Everyone camper will have to opportunity to take something home with them to work on through detailed instruction from Chris Husby and his highly experienced staff.  All camp staff members are current or former NFL Free Agent kickers and punters and have all trained at a high level.

Coach Chris Husby
 To learn more about Coach Husby and his staff, click here.

Don't miss out on an opportunity to showcase your talent, as well as receive great instruction from some of the best coaches available in the country. For more information on the camp and registration, register Here. We hope to see you there!

 -Coach Chris Husby
Professional Kicking Coach and Owner
Follow us on Twitter.
Subscribe to our YouTube Videos.
CoachHusby@gmail.com
651-353-2660