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Tuesday, March 25, 2014

No regular-season change for extra points expected (Reposted)

Today is a big win for kickers everywhere!   This is a reposted written article by JimCorbett of USA Today.  Here is the original link.  

 

No regular-season change for extra points expected

 by Jim Corbett, USA TODAY Sports

 

Don't expect extra points from the 2-yard line to be kicked to the curb just yet.
A spirited debate is expected to occur during this week's owners meetings on the New England Patriots' proposal to move a PAT attempt back to the 25-yard line. Teams would still maintain the option to go for two points from the 2.
The competition committee recommended the league should experiment with extra-point kicks from the 20-yard-line for one week of preseason games and see how that goes.
"Nothing is going to happen on the PATs -- the PAT is not going to change for the regular season,'' New York Giants CEO and co-owner John Mara, a member of the competition committee, told USA TODAY Sports on Sunday.
"The most you will see is the possible experiment in Week 2 of the preseason with moving it back. But I'm not even sure that has the votes to get that done. I don't see it changing for the regular season.''
That's because some owners don't want to break with the tradition despite the fact that only five extra points were missed last season when kickers converted 99.6% of extra point attempts.
"Most people say, 'If it's not broke don't fix it.' Mine is, 'If it's not broke, don't break it,''' Raiders owner Mark Davis told USA TODAY Sports. "They're penalizing these guys (kickers) because they've gotten so good at what they do.
"It's something that is part of the game. Obviously, it's 99% effective. But there is still that one percent where it's not."
Mara said among the 13 rules proposals, seven bylaws and one resolution to be discussed during the Monday through Wednesday meetings, the Patriots' proposal to extend the goal post uprights by five feet might generate some momentum. Proposals must receive 24 of 32 owners votes in order to be ratified.
"The extended goal posts has a chance to pass,'' Mara said.
Another proposal that could have a chance for approval is the competition committee's call for the game referee to consult with vice president of officiating Dean Blandino in the league's New York City headquarters in a bid to receive guidance and consult better television angles on controversial replays.
"The one where the referee will be able to consult with the command center, there is support for that proposal,'' Mara said. "Whether there are 24 votes or not, we won't know until we get into the room. But there was support for that in the competition committee.
"They think it will maybe shorten the time for certain reviews. And if that's the case, then, I'm all for it.''
Mara said he is opposed to a push to expand the playoff field to add a seventh team from each conference, thus eliminating a bye for the second seed in the AFC and NFC.
The proposition will not be voted on at these meetings. But Mara said it is only a matter of time before playoff expansion is approved.
"I'm opposed to it. But I'm not going to fall on my sword on that one," Mara said. "It's going to happen. The question is when. I could see it possibly happening next year. You have to get 24 votes. It seems to be headed in that direction.''
Follow Jim Corbett on Twitter @ByJimCorbett.


Copyright 2014 USATODAY.com

 

Thursday, March 6, 2014

From Beginner To 'All Canadian' Kicker In 1 Year | The Nathan Mesher Story

From Beginner To 'All Canadian' Kicker In 1 Year | The Nathan Mesher Story

Press Release- Waterloo, Canada

It all started with a winters visit to Maple Grove, Minnesota at the end of 2012. Chris Husby, Professional Kicking Coach of Special Teams Football Academy, was holding a winter training clinic for kickers and snappers in the Minnesota area. 



Coming off a successful soccer season as region champions 'SJAM,' kicker Nathan Mesher of Sir John A McDonald High School, (HC Josh Alexander) had caught attention of university football scouts but was unsure of what his real abilities might be. Nathan contacted Coach Husby and asked if he could come by while home for the holidays (Wisconsin Native) and get some training tips and an assessment of his potential kicking abilities. 

Nathan had never kicked before that season and as an international soccer player was facing decisions as he had been approached by a Canadian university for playing both soccer and now football at the university level. "Chris Husby's training was awesome, and he pointed me in all the right directions. The encouragement was just what I need," Nathan said.

Nathan training with Coach Husby at Winter Clinics.
"We saw Nathan as a natural but untrained talent with a very smooth swing and that 'pop' that can catch your attention," said Husby, "However we were clear that in order to
compete, Nathan needed to start a train regimen and start competing at various evaluation Kicking Camps."
With great instruction and confidence, Nathan returned to Waterloo, Canada and began to train. He started with kicking into kicking nets while awaiting the snow to melt. Once the snow melted, Nathan attend a kicking camp held at the prestigious Queens University. There he hit 45 yard field goals consistently and attracted the head coaches attention. Coach Sheenan told Nathan, "you can kick the football very well, but you need to play football. Go join the summer varsity leagues. You must have more experience to come kick here."
Nathan continued to train, now outside, he was allowed to kick at the Wilford Laurier University on university goal posts to become more precise and accurate. 3 times a week and a bag of balls, Nathan then returned to Special Teams Football Academy but this time it was to attend the NCS Top Tier All American Kicking Camp in St Paul, MN, to Chart, Compete and be Evaluated.

Nathan took top honors winning awards for 'Top All Around Specialist,' 'Top Punting Chart' and 'Top Field Goal Chart.'


Nathan Mesher (right) earned 'Top All Around Specialist'
"It was at this event, based on Coach Husby and his staff's encouragement that I realized that I had what it takes and I needed to get serious about kicking," said Nathan. So training moving forward, now became a bag of balls almost daily vs just a couple days a week.




Nathan soon joined the U19 KW Predators Football Team (HC Kevin Horn) in June and by the end of the season was the top kicker in the league in field goal percentage going 9 for 10. This season was all played in a University Stadium on university regulation uprights. However, according to Coach Shenahn and to be considered for university football, he told Nathan, "you need to play football."

Nathan then signed up for the U23 Canadian Junior Football Leagues KW Predators Team (HC James MacArthur). Nathan had a sensational season shattering team records and winning the Ontario All Star nod for best place kicker as he went 15 for 16 on Field Goals and won both the conference and Canadian league kicking titles.

On Nov 8th, Nathan was award and named to the CJFL "All Canadian Team." An award only given to 'one player per position' in all of Canada. Nathan was named the Top Kicker in Canada!  Read List of 2013 CJFL All Canadian Team recipients. This honor earned him a beautiful commemorative ring.

He was the only high school kicker to ever win this award.


CJFL "All Canadian Team"- Canada's Top Overall Kicker
All this wouldn't have been possible, if it weren't for his amazing soccer coaches who let him do this. "I'd like to personally thank Duncan Wilde and Billy Steele for all of their support during this process," said Nathan.

For Nathan, the kicking season wasn't over yet. Despite playing in 2 football leagues over the summer, he also was one of the captains with the Toronto Lynx, and played 10 games in the US Super Y League (one of the Top Soccer levels in the Nation), where his team, had an undefeated season and ranked #1 in the Midwest. Their team played in the US Finals at IMG in Florida (Over December).



Nathan recently signed to play football with Wilfred Laurier University in Ontario. The University offers one of the Top Business programs in Canada. 


Signing with Wilfred Laurier University in Ontario
Nathan has asked to thank all his family, friends, teammates, kicking coach and team coaches who all help put him in the position the be successful.  


 
"From Special Teams Football Academy to 'All Canadian Team,' The path to 'Best In Class'... thanks for your support Coach Husby," said Nathan Mesher. "Train with a program with a PROVEN track record." 

Congratulations Nathan!

Chris Husby
Professional Kicking Coach and Owner
Special Teams Football Academy 

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CoachHusby@gmail.com 651-353-2660


Wednesday, March 5, 2014

2014 College Kicking Camp Schedule | For Kickers, Punters, Long Snappers

Here are a list of most of the prominent College Specialists Camps coming up for the summer of 2014. (We don't have every school).  

All camps are available to any specialist (Rising 9th-12th) that would like to showcase their abilities and get noticed by the college’s coaching staff.  It is important for you to do research on these schools to find out if the program is a good fit for you academically and athletically.

MOST OF THE SCHOOLS HERE ARE LOOKING FOR A KICKER, PUNTER, AND LONG SNAPPER

If you know of another camp that we don't have listed, please email CoachHusby@gmail.com and I'll update the list.
 



June


July

TBA

Video: How should I approach coaches when I am at their camps?

From everyone here at Special Teams Football Academy, we'd like to wish Good Luck to everyone that attends these camps.  Stay Focused and do your best!
**We've love to know who saw this list.  Post what state where you are from below**

If you need a quick tune up on Kicking, Punting or Snapping before you go, contact us or sign up for an e-Virtual Lesson! 

Coach Chris Husby
Professional Kicking Coach and Owner
Special Teams Football Academy 

Join our Facebook Fan Page
Follow us on Twitter.
Follow us on Instagram
Subscribe to our YouTube Videos. 
CoachHusby@gmail.com
651-353-2660