Semper Fi All American Bowl Kickers and Punters chosen by Chris Sailer Kicking

January 4, 2013 By

Look for the 4 Kickers and Punters chosen by Chris Sailer Kicking in tonight’s Semper Fi All American Bowl. The game is nationally televised on the NFL Network and kickoff is tonight at 6pm PST at the Home Depot Center in Carson, CA.

The 4 nationally ranked kickers and punters include:

Punters – Jimmy Hutchinson (Auburn Commit) Andrew Antognoli (Harvard Commit)

Kickers – Michael Geiger (Michigan State Commit)  and Matt Anderson (CAL Commit)

Click Here for more information on tonight’s game. Congratulations to these 4 fine young men!

Andrew Antognoli (Harvard Commit)

Jimmy Hutchinson (Auburn Commit)

Matt Anderson (CAL Commit)

Michael Geiger (Michigan State Commit)

 

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Filed Under: Article Archives, Coaching, College, Graduating, High School, Kicking, Punting, Recruiting Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Knight of Honor & Athletic Hall of Fame Inductions: Chris Sailer to be Honored

December 14, 2012 By

Knight of Honor & Athletic Hall of Fame Inductions
Saturday, February 23, 2013
6:00 p.m. – Social
7:00 p.m. – Dinner/Ceremony

Notre Dame will continue its great annual tradition by awarding its Knights of Honor award to Rex and Maureen Ralwinson and the Fritz B. Burns Foundation.  Rex and Maureen are the parents of three Notre Dame graduates, Justin ’91, Neil ’94 and Ian ‘97.  Rex served on the NDHS Board of Directors in the late 1990’s and, as a Director of the Fritz B. Burns Foundation (along with Maureen), was instrumental in the foundation’s major support and construction of the Fritz B. Burns Center for Arts and Technology.  The foundation’s support continued for the construction of the Br. Robert Hampton, CSC Science Building, the planned Joseph Rawlinson Aquatic Center (2013) and the renovation of the gymnasium (2014).  The service, devotion and generosity of the Fritz B. Burns Foundation and the Rawlinson Family is a gift that has served thousands of Notre Dame students and they are deserving recipients of the 2013 Knights of Honor Award.

Notre Dame High School also is pleased to announce it will honor several athletic inductees to its Hall of Fame preceding the Knight of Honor award presentation.  The Hall of Fame began inducting athletes in 2011 and this is the third induction class.

 

The 2013 inductees are:

Tony Salas ’57 (posthumous) – The first 2-Time All-CIF athlete, averaged 16.3 points per game as a basketball captain in his senior year.

Bud Fabian ’69 – 1st Team All Del Rey League and 1st Team All-CIF in 1968-69, he scored 66 points in a single game versus Cathedral High School (still a record). Bud went on to play for a nationallyanked Santa Clara University team 1970-72 before suffering a career-ending injury in 1973.

Escamillo (“Eski”) Viltz ’78 – A 2-Time All-CIF baseball star at NDHS.

Nigel Miguel ’81 – All-CIF, All American and McDonald’s All American standout at NDHS who led his team to a 19-5 record and Del Rey League title.  He played four years at UCLA and was the team’s leading scorer his senior year as the Bruins won the NIT championship.

Chris Sailer ’95 – Kicked a national record 22 field goals at ND and was a high school All-American.  A 2-time All-American at UCLA as a kicker and punter, still holding the UCLA record for longest field goal (56 yards).

 

 

Travis Johnson ’00 – A 2-Time All-CIF football star, Johnson also earned Parade, PrepStar, Football News and USA Today All American First Team honors in setting the NDHS career record for sacks (61), tackles for loss (77) and forced fumbles (14).  He was All-ACC his senior year at Florida State University before being selected as the 16th player of the first round of the NFL draft by the HoustonTexans in 2005.

Garrett Green ’06 – A 3-Time All CIF quarterback, Green led the Knights to three consecutive titles and is the winningest quarterback in NDHS history.  He also was a state finalist hurdler.  He continued his football career at USC and was a member of the national contending Trojans for four seasons.

 

For more information please contact
Susan Armendariz at (818) 933-3608 or [email protected] 
or Katie Feeney at (818) 933-3606 or [email protected].

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Filed Under: Article Archives, High School, Kicking, Punting Tagged With: , , , , , ,

2012 Herbalife 24 High School Football Awards

December 10, 2012 By

This past weekend was the Herbalife 24 Chris Sailer and Chris Rubio Awards for top high school Placekicker and Long Snapper. Three kickers and three long snappers were brought into L.A. Live for the awards show. The three finalists for the Chris Sailer Award for top Placekicker were Austin Rehkow (WA, ’13), Kevin Robledo (CA, ’15) and Wyatt Schmidt (MN, ’13). The three finalists for the Chris Rubio Award for top Long Snapper were Cole Mazza (CA, ’13), Gabriel Miller (IN, ’13) and Scott Sypniewski (IL, ’13).

Wyatt Schmidt & Cole MazzaThe weekend started off with the finalists that were flown into LAX being picked up in limos and driven to the JW Marriott. Once there, they, and a guest of their choice, relaxed in their rooms and waited for dinner at the ESPN Zone. The first night’s dinner was casual with everyone getting to know one another and to finally see the trophies they worked so hard to hopefully take home the next day.

Saturday started off with a breakfast at the Herbalife building with a presentation on nutrition and supplements. Following the breakfast, the finalists, along with Chris Sailer and Chris Rubio, were driven in a limo to Saddle Ranch restaurant on Sunset Blvd. Needless to say, they ate and ate and ate some more. At 6:00 pm, the Awards show officially started in the Herbalife building at L.A. Live. Everyone in attendance was formally dressed, looking sharp as the tension filled the air.

Master of Ceremonies Wayne Cook of Fox Sports West did a tremendous job as he brought up guest speakers and conducted interviews with the finalists on stage. After much adieu, the winner of the Chris Rubio Award for top high school Long Snapper in the country was presented to Cole Mazza and the winner of the top high school Placekicker in the country was presented to Wyatt Schmidt!

 Chris Sailer & Wyatt Schmidt

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Filed Under: Article Archives, High School, Kicking, Punting Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

10 Things a High School Coach Should Know About Their Kicker/Punter

September 29, 2012 By

10 Things a High School Coach Should Know About Their Kicker/Punter

1. A K/P is unique just like any other position player in the off season.  They should train as athletes first.  But they should also train specifically for their position.  They should not be expected to just jump into any group and train like a lineman or defensive back that day.  Take the time to structure an off season schedule for your K/P.

2. A K/P is only as good as his special team unit, especially the long snapper and holder.  Kickers and punters should begin working with next year’s snapper and holder the day the season ends.  An entire offseason is necessary to ensure a successful season.  Don’t wait until the first day of camp.  Also, the snapper and holder need to be players that actually want to play the position and spend the necessary hours working on and perfecting these key skills.  Tip: chose the punter to be the holder.

3. Set a date and time to meet with your K/P as early in the off season as possible.  Talk about season goals, specialist camp goals (Chris Sailer Kicking & Rubio Long Snapping), offseason schedule, in season schedule, snappers and holders, etc.  Meet early and get on the same page and the team will dominate that third of the game we call “special teams”.

4. Your word goes a long way with college coaches.  Please put in the time and effort to help your K/P find a college home.  There are more colleges that need K/P’s then are there are good K/P’s out there to fill those needs.  Believe me when I say, “Kickers, Punters, and Long Snappers” get scholarships for their specialty position.  Help your K/P get a scholarship and take a portion of the credit.  This is a great way to build your program.

5. K/P’s are like starting pitchers in baseball.  They cannot kick/punt all day, every day.   They have a K/P count, just like a pitcher has a pitch count.  Focus on quality over quantity and have a plan.  There a plenty of things for your K/P to do to improve their skills including muscle memory drills 7 days a week and film study each day.  Provide a basic digital camera if possible.

6. If you want your kicker to be successful on the field during games, preparation starts during practice.  Make time to give your K/P live reps during practice with the team.  You cannot expect perfection in a game if you haven’t practiced it enough.  Take more time to work on special teams during practice with live reps.  If possible, work special teams right after early outs and stretching.  See number 5.

7. Specialists need the full field for a portion of practice.  Create an early outs session where all the kickers, punters, snappers, holders, and returners take the field before the rest of the team.  20-30 minutes time will do wonders.

8. Allow your K/P to determine the size of the kicking tees they use.  Good kickers work extremely hard in the off season and know which size tee they have confidence using.  Monitor the success rate of the kicks, not the tee size.

9. K/P’s are trained to be their own coach when it comes to technique.  Unless you know what you are talking about, leave your K/P alone when it comes to technique.  Again, monitor the success of the kicks, don’t analyze the technique.

10. Have your K/P’s back.  Encourage, don’t discourage.  There will come a time when a K/P will miss a big kick, shank a punt, etc.  It happens to everyone.  Your going to need your K/P to step up next time.  Tell your K/P that you believe in them and get them back on the horse.  If your K/P knows that you believe in them, they are 10 times more likely to have success.

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Filed Under: Article Archives, Coaching, High School, Kicking, Punting, Training

Tips To Make a Kicking / Punting Highlight Video

July 17, 2012 By

Tips To Make a Kicking / Punting Highlight Video

Making a highlight video is one of the major responsibilities an athlete has when it comes to recruiting.  Here are some simple tips that will help you start the process.

•    A simple highlight video is what a college coach wants to see from an athlete.  You DO NOT have to pay hundreds of dollars to hire a videographer.  You can make the video yourself.  It is all about the content, not the fluff.
•    Get a digital camera and ask your friend to film for you.
•    Start by standing in front of the camera and say, “My name is _________.  I go to _________ High School in _________ and will graduate in the Class of ____.
•    Make sure to be wearing your Chris Sailer Kicking T- Shirt at all times. This will show that you have been to my camps and have been taught properly.
•    Insert simple graphics (Name, High School, State, Grade Year, Simple Stats, References (Chris Sailer & High School Coach), Reference Phone Numbers (Chris Sailer 818-209-8921), and your cell phone number. Have it as a set screen so they can pause on it to see. Do not have it as a scrolling screen.
•    Put your best footage first.  If you have one or two GREAT game highlights, add those first.  If you do not, add some practice footage here.  I recommend one field goal off the ground, one kickoff, and 1 punt.  This should capture the very best of what you are capable of doing.
•    Next add a simple graphic that says, FIELD GOALS.  Add game field goals first.  Add practice session field goals to complement the game footage.  If you do not have any good game footage, just add practice footage.  If you can kick well off the ground…do it.  If not, use a tee.  Film these kicks from directly behind the kicker.
•    Next add a simple graphic that says, KICKOFFS.  Add game kickoffs first.  Add practice session kickoffs to complement the game footage.  If you do not have any good game footage, just add practice footage. Film these kicks from the bleachers.
•    Next add a simple graphic that says, PUNTING.  Add game punts first.  Add practice session punts to complement the game footage.  If you do not have any good game footage, just add practice footage. Add a few directional punts and Inside the 40 punts.  If you are just a punter, you will want to add more punts than a combo player.  Film these punts from the bleachers.
•    Finally, add simple graphics to close your highlight video.  I would recommend copying and pasting the Chris Sailer evaluation from your CSK Player Profile page.  Also add all of your contact information (Name, Cell Number, Email Address, Home Address).
•    The video should be no longer than 3-4 minutes total.
•    Do not include any more than 1-2 extra points.
•    DO NOT have any background music playing.  It is distracting and coaches do not want to hear it.
•    DO NOT add statistical graphics or voiceover to your highlights.  Coaches want to time kicks themselves.
•    Cut the video well.  Get rid of downtime.  Coaches don’t need to see you setting up the ball or chasing down the ball before and after kicks.
•    Only add highlights.  Don’t force game footage to the video if the footage does not represent what you are capable of doing.
•    Immediately load the video to www.YouTube.com  I highly recommend creating your own channel and adding new workout videos as often as possible.  This is a great way for a college coach to search you and get immediate access to your videos.  They want to see progress, so do not be afraid to keep old videos up. Simply date them when you add them.  Tag Chris Sailer Kicking when you add a video.
•    Send me the online link.  I will add it to add it to your Player Profile Page.

Good luck.  Do not be intimidated by this process.  It really is not that difficult.  Start making videos your freshman and sophomore season for the experience and to show progress.  College coaches will really start to pay attention your junior season.

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Filed Under: Article Archives, High School, Kicking, Promotion, Punting, Video, YouTube Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

I am a Junior, And It’s March!

March 20, 2012 By

I am a Junior, And It’s March!

One of the most common questions that I get is, “I am a junior, and it is March, what am I supposed to do?” 

The class ahead of you has signed scholarships on signing date and panic sets in.  First some advice – Do Not Panic!   It is extremely early.  Majority of the K, P, & LS in the class ahead of you are still deciding where they will go college.  Be patient, but have a plan. 

Steps In The Plan:

1. Create your recruiting team.  It should involve people such as: 1. You, 2. Your Parents, 3. Your High School Coach, 4. Your K, P, LS Coach (Sailer or Rubio), 5. Your High School Academic Counselor & 6. A Recruiting Service (NCSA). 

2. Set your college goals.  Where would you like to play?  What schools match your academic interests?  Which schools match your social interests?  Which school match your athletic interests?  Create a VERY broad list of schools that may meet your needs. 

3. Work with NCSA to contact these schools.  Create your own email list to contact these schools.  This list should have a minimum of 100 schools on it (D1, D2, D3, and NAIA).  It should include schools from all divisions and all conferences.  Contact these schools with an initial email.  State your interest to play college football for them.  Link your highlight video. Link your Chris Sailer Kicking Profile Page.  Link your NCSA profile page.  List your contact info, your High School coaches contact info, your kicking coaches contact info, your GPA, and any test scores.  Inquire about their college kicking camp for the upcoming summer.  Ask for the date and express your interest to show them your ability to play for them.  Inquire about their Junior Day.  Finally, ask to be on their Recruit List for their games for the upcoming season. 

4. Set up some Spring Visits.  These could be Junior Days, attending Spring Ball Scrimmages, or simply taking an unofficial visit.  Try to set up college campus tours.  Try to set up meetings with coaches and academic counselors.  Get out there face to face and educate yourself. 

5. Attend Chris Sailer Kicking Nike Spring Camps and the 10th Annual National Kicking Spring Event Sponsored by Nike.  These camps are crucial for your exposure.  Coaches are starting to make their recruit lists for your Class.  You need to be at the Spring Event to get on these lists.  Don’t be fooled, Chris Sailer Kicking is #1 in the world when it comes to placing players in college!

6. Set your summer schedule.  No such thing as a vacation for you this summer.  Attend Chris Sailer Kicking Camps.  Attend College Camps (Try-Outs), Take unofficial visits.  This is your time to shine.  This is when you will earn a scholarship or walk-on.  Try to get to as many parts of the country as possible. 

This will set you up to have contacts and a great recruitment following for your upcoming senior season.  Be realistic in the colleges you are targeting.  Target schools that you have the ability or potential to play at.  This will be a Spring/Summer to remember if you do it correctly.  Best of luck!

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Filed Under: Article Archives, Graduating, High School, Kicking, Punting

Signing Date Has Passed…..What Now?

February 2, 2012 By

Signing Date Has Passed…..What Now?

First of all congratulations to the many Chris Sailer Kicking Students that were fortunate to sign scholarships to play college football.  Some committed early on, such as Adam Griffith to Alabama over year ago, and some were awarded scholarship offers late, such as Josh Lambert to West Virginia, literally today!  Getting a college scholarship is a huge accomplishment and I congratulate you all. 

However, like we have always said, when it comes to kickers, punters, and long snappers, it is NEVER too late.  Yes, another wave of recruiting has passed, but another is now set to begin.  Signing date has passed, so you are asking the question, “What Now”?  It is not time to cry, to panic, to quit. It is time to focus knowing that only the top 5-10% or so of specialists have made their college choices.  Over the course of the next several months, college coaches will need to find specialists.  They will begin to panic and if you have been keeping up your contacts, they will come looking for you.  You will find a home.

Yes, most D1A Scholarships have been awarded and signed.  That’s okay.  Some will still be available based on numbers, ineligibility, and injuries.  Many D1AA, D2, and D3 scholarships are now available.  Reach out to schools of all levels that fit your needs both academically and socially.  There is money out there.  You will find a school to play football that will ultimately land you a college degree. 

Here is my advice:

1. Create a huge email list of college coaches.  Send them an email saying this… “Dear Coach, my name is (fill in the blank).  I have a strong interest to play college football for your program.  I would love the opportunity to compete and win a job on your team.  If possible, can I visit the campus in the near future and show you that my desire to play for you in sincere.  Please take a minute to view my highlight video link and brief bio showing my qualifications.  Contact Chris Sailer, my kicking coach, as a reference (818-209-8921).  Looking forward to hearing from you. 

The key is not to ask for a scholarship.  Ask for an opportunity to play. 

2. Make calls.  Say the same thing as above.  If the coach doesn’t answer, state the above on their voice mail. 

3. Make visits.  Get yourself on their campus.  Try to meet coaches in person.  Show them that your interest in sincere. 

4. If there is a school that you have already been accepted to academically, use this to your advantage.  Let the coach know because it makes his life a whole lot easier. 

Recruiting is a process.  It takes time.  But the reward at the end of all the hard work in well worth it.  Believe me when I say that there is a great school out there for you where you can thrive academically, socially, and athletically.  Time to get to work and find the right fit.  Many doors will continue to open and shut.  Do not get frustrated.  Stick to the plan.  There is light at the end of the tunnel if you stay the course. 

Looking forward to the receiving your commitment emails.  I will be the first to congratulate you!

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Filed Under: Article Archives, College, High School, Kicking, Punting, Recruiting

10 THINGS TO DO TO GET A SCHOLARSHIP

April 16, 2011 By

Every year many very deserving kickers/punters slip through the cracks and do not get a scholarship.  Why does this happen?  Simple, there just aren’t enough to go around.  So, those that take the necessary steps, when all is equal, are the ones that end up getting them.  I could right a 20-page formal or informal piece on this subject, but for now, here are 10 THINGS TO DO TO GET A SCHOLARSHIP:

1. Attend Chris Sailer Kicking camps as early as possible (as soon as 8th Grade).  Why?  To get proper technique coaching, to gain knowledge of how the kicking world works, and to get early exposure. Then keep going. 

2. Set goals and create a plan as a freshman in high school.  Form a team.  You are the captain.  Now you need reliable teammates.  Your team should consist of your parents, your coach, your school guidance counselor, NCSA (recruit service), and a kicking coach (Sailer). 

3. Earn your scholarship.  The sooner you realize that a scholarship is earned, not given, you will begin to work hard.  Work hard and reach your full potential as a person (character), in the classroom (grades and test scores), in the weight room (strength, speed, and flexibility), and on the field (kicking and punting).  You will earn your scholarship – not your coach, not your parents, not your kicking coach.  Make it happen and it will. 

4. Use social networking….the right way.  Use Facebook, Twitter, Blog and many others to learn, stay up to date (follow Chris_Sailer), and most importantly promote yourself.  The internet is very powerful.  The more a coach sees your name, the better.  Understand that this is your online resume.  As much as the internet can help you, it can also kill your chances.  Be smart…enough said. 

5. Create highlight videos.  You can never have enough.  Get them up on CSK, NCSA, and YouTube.  Just like social networking, turn yourself into a virus.  Start early to learn.  During your junior and senior season, you better have one ready when a coach calls.  It should be a click away. 

6.  Have a good high school career.  Sometimes this is out of your control due to the quality of your team, coach, snapper, holder, etc.  However, it is up to you to make the best out of bad situation.  Let your coach know you want to be the best.  Show him you’ll work hard.  Set up a game plan with him for extra time spent on special teams.  Get with your snapper and holder as often as possible (year round).  If you don’t have one, pick one.  Ask a friend, recruit and athlete, etc.  Get it done.  Send your snapper to Rubio (they will get WAY better in one lesson – trust me).  Stats can help you, do your best to make this your advantage. 

7.  Attend College Camps during the summer of your sophomore year (a good idea) and during the summer of your junior year (a must).  These are tryouts.  If you are good enough, here is where you can prove it to them.  Regardless of how much exposure you have had, most coaches still want to see it with their own eyes.  Seal the deal!

8. YOU Make the phone calls.  Coaches want to talk to you.  Tell your parents to encourage you, but to “spread out”. (See RUBIO BLOG for the definition of “spread out”) These coaches have to spend the next 4-5 years with you.  They will make sure that they like you.  When you meet a coach in person, answer your own questions, don’t let your parents answer for you. 

9. Take your SAT and ACT early and often.  The sooner you qualify, the better.  The more schools that you can qualify for, the better.  Make sure you are a qualifier so that if you have to go to a junior college for any reason, you can get out before getting your AA.  You only have to go through this once in life, so suck it up. 

10.  Get to Vegas for the National Event early and often.  Early to learn, gain experience, and get exposure.  Be the guy we know, not the guy we are just finding out about.  Simple, put it on your calendar now….I am going to Vegas 8 times (every January and May for all 4 years of high school).  This is the biggest stage.  Trust me.  See you May 14th!

Three CSK Kickers that got it correct: 
Matt Goudis (Miami), Andre Heidari (USC) & Connor Loftus (Penn)

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Filed Under: Article Archives, College, Graduating, High School, Kicking, Punting, Recruiting

Do High School Stats Matter?

March 10, 2011 By
Do High School Stats Matter?
One of the most common questions that I get asked by both high school players and their parents is, ” How much do your high school stats matter when it comes to recruiting”?  This is a GREAT question.

Let me start by saying, that the more that you have going for you, the better.  Some very important factors:  great character as a person, team leader, positive influence in the locker room, hard worker, good grades, SAT scores, ACT scores, extracurricular activities, head coach’s evaluation, principal’s evaluation, kicking coach’s evaluation, camp exposure, highlight video, high school statistics, etc. etc.  I could go on and on.  Be the best that you can be in everything that you do.  Period.  Control what you can control.  Reach your full potential in every area you can think of. 

So back to the question posed.  Yes, if you have great, even good high school stats, it can surely help you.  If you do not have good stats, or really just any stats at all, it won’t particularly hurt you.  It will come down to your skill level when all is said and done.  The stats may help you get exposure, but there are also other ways to go about getting exposure.  Again, see the list above. 

You might wonder, well if the stats are no good, that must mean the player is no good and must not be able to kick under pressure.  This may be true, but also may not be.  At the high school level the opportunities given to each player vary greatly.  Some things to consider:  strength of team, quality of high school coach and attention paid to special teams.  quality of snapper (Yes Rubio, I will interject here with your blog request, more later), quality of holder, quality of blocking.  In high school you will see a huge difference in the above from school to school.  In college, not so much.  In the pros, not at all.  So we all must take these factors into consideration.  And believe it or not, most college coaches do. 

I can give you dozens of examples, but here are three that focus on simple field goal stats.  1-15, 2-3, 5-12.  Not great right?  How about scholarships to the PAC-10, Big 12, and SEC.  The moral is, do your best to find a great program, work hard with the coaches and other specialists provided, and never give up no matter how bad your stats are looking.  You may hit a 55-Yarder that turns heads, you may not.  Either way, if your stats don’t accurately reflect your talent, you still have so many other ways to find your way onto a college team, .  Ultimately, college coaches investing thousands of dollars, will find the best kickers and punters the nation has, regardless of stats. 

And yes, kickers and punters, it all begins with the snap.  At the high school level especially, be thankful for every great snap that you get.  Snappers, “We can’t do it without you”. 

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Filed Under: Article Archives, High School