Support leg loading in punt kicking.

Abstract A kicker from a team in the Big 8 Football Conference was filmed at 200 frames per second while punting (N = 20) on a sophisticated force platform. The platform measured the three components of force and two torques. A formula and film data were used to predict distance (criterion variable). With the support leg centered under the kicker's nose, vertical reaction force was significantly inversely correlated with distance (r = −.53, p ≤ .001). The area under the curve for somersault torque was the only other force platform output to correlate significantly (r = .43, p ≤ .03) with distance. Maximum distance is associated with a maximum force transfer to the ball rather than a maximum force transfer through the ground via the support leg. For maximum distance, tread lightly.