The place kickers and punters in a football game can become heroes or goats in an instant. Just look at the fate of the NFL kickers this past Sunday and how many kicks missed their mark. It is not easy being a football kicker. The pressure and conditions can all take a toll on the psyche of any kicker. Last Friday night the weather in Brodheadsville for Pleasant Valley was terrible. It was raining steadily and the wind was whipping. Consider this: being a high school kicker is hard enough in good conditions let alone these terrible conditions!
Photographing a kicker can be equally frustrating! A lot of action happens on every place kick, punt, and kickoff. Players and referees appear all over the field and oftentimes right in front of the kicker! Timing is imperative, too.
I think of capturing the kickers during the game as a game within the game for us sports photographers. Newspapers, magazines, and news wires want the touchdown scores and sometimes the celebrations after the score. But then, immediately after all this exciting action, is the point after attempt. We need to get into the proper location right away or we will completely miss the extra point attempt.
Here is one more of my favorite shots I captured of a high school kicker. Kickers do not have it easy and yet win many games!
