NFL Hall of Famer Jan Stenerud
Founded in 1971 by NFL Hall of Famer Benny Friedman, Midwest Kicking is the longest-running instructional program for special teams players in the country. Midwest Kicking has been recognized for its innovative approach during more than five decades. It was the first camp to create a program for long snappers, the first to utilize videotaping and the first to combine both the physical and mental elements in the teaching of special teams skills. Over the years techniques and strategies in the kicking game have evolved, and Midwest Kicking has stayed at the forefront through its quality staff. From Jan Stenerud, the most decorated kicker in NFL history, to Nate Kaeding and Alex Henery, the staff is unmatched in its experience and expertise.
Camp alumni and NFL standouts Nate Kaeding and Alex Henery
Instructor Scott Hale at 2009 camp with future NFL kicker Greg Zuerlein
Chief Instructor Emeritus Jan Stenerud with camp staffer Nick Matsen
The goal of Midwest Kicking is to help you reach your fullest potential. There is no rigid, single-minded way to approach these skills. Every athlete is different, and we want to cultivate and refine your style, so you can get the maximum from it. We want to help you eliminate bad habits that hamper your proficiency. Anybody can see whether a kick, punt or snap was good or not. The key is to know why and how you produced the result you did. If an athlete understands the fundamentals and biomechanics of a physical action, it is then possible to analyze what went wrong. Armed with this knowledge, you can correct the problem.
Achieving success depends upon natural ability to a degree, but ability can be greatly augmented by hard work. Mastering special teams skills requires dedicated practice to develop “muscle memory” that will result in your performance becoming automatic in a game.
“Practice with a purpose.”
Jackson Price of Newton (IA) High School
Athletes of all skill levels and ability may participate in the camps. The camps are open to college, high school and middle school kickers, punters and centers. The range is typically from 12 to 19 years of age.
At each camp, participants are placed in instructional groups by grade, experience and skill level, and the instruction and drills are tailored accordingly.
Long snapper Hunter Gulling of PCM High School
The camps provide a productive learning environment with a 6:1 coach-to-athlete ratio. A key portion of the practice time is devoted to overall execution with kickers teaming up with centers and holders to develop timing and consistency. Punters work with long snappers to get accustomed to fielding the deep snap, handling the ball and getting the punt off quickly and in rhythm.
We provide you with drills to utilize when practicing on your own in the off-season and with your team during the season. Also, we want to assist you in setting reasonable and clearly defined goals that you can measure. Setting goals can inspire, motivate and improve performance.
“Excellence is never an accident.”
Nate Kaeding observes Sully Bright, City High School, Iowa City (IA) with instructor Nate Murphy holding
Longest Field Goal–60 yards….Caleb Shudak, junior, Lewis Central High School, Council Bluffs, IA, 2014; and Caleb Nielsen, senior, Waverly High School, Waverly, NE, 2016
Longest Field Goal (youth division)–45 yards…Sam Smith, freshman, McCook High School, McCook, NE, 2013
Kickoff Distance (college division)–82 yards…Alden Haffar, sophomore, Iowa Central Community College, 2012
Kickoff Distance (high school division)–79 yards…Kelen Meyer, senior, Ord High School, Ord, NE, 2020
Kickoff Distance (youth division)–61 yards…Zach Shudak, freshman, Lewis Central High School, Council Bluffs, IA, 2016
Kickoff Hang Time (college division)–4.26 seconds…Alden Haffar, Iowa Central Community College, 2012
Kickoff Hang Time (high school division)–4.10 seconds…Cruiser Nichols, senior, Smithville High School, Smithville, MO, 2007
Kickoff Hang Time (youth division)–3.71 seconds…Wyatt Ford, freshman, Montague High School, Montague, MI, 2010
Punt Distance–65 yards…Ethan Renner, senior, Crete High School, Crete, NE, 2011
Punt Distance (youth division)–49 yards…Bryan McLaughlin, freshman, Elkhorn High School, Elkhorn, NE, 2010
Punt Hang Time–4.73 seconds…Kirby Van Der Kamp, senior, Valley High School, West Des Moines, IA, 2009
Punt Hang Time (youth division)–3.96 seconds…Spencer Gaddis, freshman, Prairie High School, Cedar Rapids, IA, 2010
Long-Snapping Competition–33 points (maximum of 35)…. Callahan Kowal, senior, Creighton Prep High School, Omaha, NE, 2024
Longest Field Goal …… Junior Boxa, Senior, Prairie High School, Iowa City, IA (50 yards)
Longest Field Goal (Youth Division) …… Manny Rodriguez, Freshman, Linn-Mar High School, Marion, IA (45 yards)
Kickoff Distance …… Sully Bright, Senior, City High School, Iowa City, IA (65 yards)
Kickoff Hang Time …… Sully Bright, Senior, City High School, Iowa City, IA (3.76 seconds)
Kickoff Distance (Youth Division) …… Manny Rodriguez, Freshman, Linn-Mar High School, Marion, IA (45 yards)
Kickoff Hang Time (Youth Division) …… Manny Rodriguez, Freshman, Linn-Mar High School, Marion, IA (2.84 seconds)
Punt Distance …… Sully Bright, Senior, City High School, Iowa City, IA (40 yards)
Punt Hang Time …… Sully Bright, Senior, City High School, Iowa City, IA (3.88) seconds)
Punt Distance (Youth Division) …… Manny Rodriguez, Freshman, Linn-Mar High School, Marion, IA (28 yards)
Punt Hang Time (Youth Division) …… Manny Rodriguez, Freshman, Linn-Mar High School, Marion, IA (2.97 seconds)
Outstanding long-snapper …… Noah Thoms, Linn-Mar High School, Marion, IA
Caleb Bittner, Clayton Ridge (IA) High School
Junior Boxa, Cedar Rapids Prairie High School
Kickers with Nate Kaeding at Iowa City West camp
Escher Yaw, Kearney (NE) High School
Jacob Eagen, Conestoga (NE) Junior High School
Leo Kisicki, Westside (NE) Middle School
Chief instructor Alex Henery
Skills Challenge winner…..,Conley Harne, sophomore, Valley High School, West Des Moines, IA (39 points) Skills Challenge runner-up……Dom Witt, junior, PCM High School, Monroe, IA (32 points)
Above, Conley Harne with Alex Henery and, below, Dom Witt with Alex Henery
Below, Domenic Bayliff of Logan View (NE) High School and Bennett Deprez of Omaha Westview High School (NE) competing in the 2024 “Skills Challenge.”
Below, Joel Hallgren of Ottumwa (IA) High School and Patrick Connealy of Logan-Magnolia (IA) High School competing in the 2024 “Skills Challenge.”
