Chris Sailer Kicking – 2015 CA Fall Camp Recap, Riccitelli Dominates

The Chris Sailer Kicking 2015 Fall Camp Tour continued October 18th in Los Angeles, CA.  The combination of elite high school and junior college athletes made for a highly competitive atmosphere. Nearly 200 specialists gathered at Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks to learn and compete among the best.  Take a look at the results.

Overall Camp Champion:
Collin Riccitelli (2016, CA) – Collin is simply a fantastic kicker.  The longtime Chris Sailer student and EVENT ELITE Member was on fire from start to finish.  He won back to back field goal competitions by connecting on 15 consecutive field goals, including three 60+ yarders.  His kickoffs were also solid.  Collin in a great D1 prospect.  OFFER NOW!!!

Kickoff Champion:
Jake Lanski (JC, CA) – Jake stepped up in the kickoff competition.  He average 65+ yards with close to 4.0 second hang time.  He was also very strong on field goals all day.  The junior college kicker has all the tools to compete at the highest college level.

Punt Champion:
Reece Morrison (TR, TX) – Reece put together a solid performance punting the ball. When he is on his “A” game he can compete with the very best.  A great looking athlete with a D1 leg.  A top transfer that is going to make a nice addition to any college football program.

Other Elite 2016 Prospects:
Cole Bunce – Top kicking prospect in the nation
Diego Marquez – #1 available transfer kicker in the nation
Brandon Gracia – #1 available junior college kicker in the nation
Jake Koehke  – Top combo player (K/P) prospect
Andrew Rodriguez – Top combo player (K/P) prospect
Jared Porter – Top combo player (K/P) prospect
Jerry Fitschen – One of the best kickoff legs in the nation
Tavis Guerra – Top junior college kicking prospect
Codey Wuthrich – Top junior college punting prospect

Other 2016 Standouts: Kevin Boermeester, Alec Chadwick, Chris Stalter, Hayden McGinnis, James Drye, Jesse Kelly, Miguel Mendez, Zach Glaess, Martin Alfaro, Alex Wielenga, Devin Garcia, Evan Rios, Joshua Rodriguez, Michael O’Toole, Shane Jacobs, Dayton Diorio, Gavin Scully, Elias, Deeb, James Husebo, Sam Ellison

Elite 2017 Prospects:
Asa Fuller – Top kicking prospect
Diego Cacho-Souza – Top kicking prospect, developing punter
Peyton Henry – Top kicking prospect, developing punter
Daniel Whelan – Big time all around potential
Augustin Delgadillo – Top kicking prospect

Other 2017 Standouts: Brian Papazian, Clay Eggeman, Collin Sillery, Daniel Mojarro, Jack Cooper, Dylan Carlson, Liam King, Dario Longhetto, Logan Armstrong, Matt Bazarevitsch, Ryan Stonehouse, Torre Zolferino, Trevor Bowens, Clyde Hovsepian, Derek Engel, Jack Geiger, Jack Montgomery, Michael Salerno, Miguel Rodriguez, Seth Ketterer, Tiago Paim

2018 Standouts: Ajay Culhane, Campbell Geddes, Corey Bell, Jonah Lipel, Jordan Macmillan, Chris Wood, Holden Ramme, Luke Simpson, Shane Marcum

2019 Standouts: Nico Boschetti, Ramzee Jaridly, Adam Tontz, Jack Oswald, Axel Mireles, Carson Sten

Chris Sailer Kicking will next make stops in NJ, FL, IL, TX, GA & CA.  As always the big finale will be VEGAS XXVII (January 16-17) where kickers, punters and long snappers from all over the world gather to learn & compete with the best.  #TeamSailer
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Chris Sailer Kicking – Week 7 College Players of the Week, Donny Hageman & JK Scott Honored!

Each week Chris Sailer Kicking will select College Players of the Week based off of performances from that week only.  Players selected are students of Chris Sailer Kicking and must have attended Chris Sailer Kicking camps or lessons.

Chris Sailer Kicking College Players of the Week:

Kicker:
Week 7: Donny Hageman (San Diego State) 3 for 3 Field Goals (Long 39) 3 for 3 Extra Points
Week 6: Ross Martin (Duke) 3 for 3 Field Goals (Long 40) 5 for 5 Extra Points
Week 5: Taylor Bertolet (Texas A&M) 3 for 4 Field Goals (Long 55) 3 for 3 Extra Points
Week 4: Andrew Gantz (Cincinnati) 4 for 5 Field Goals (Long 49), 4 for 4 Extra Points
Week 3: Aidan Schneider (Oregon) 4 for 4 Field Goals (Long 40), 7 for 7 Extra Points
Week 2: Redford Jones (Tulsa) 4 for 4 Field Goals (Long 34), 4 for 4 Extra Points
Week 1: Garrett Owens (Oregon State) 4 for 4 Field Goals (Long 45), 2 for 2 Extra Points

Punter:
Week 7: JK Scott (Alabama) 48.2 Yard Punt Average on 8 Punts (Long 56)
Week 6: Alexander Kinal (Wake Forest) 49.3 Yard Punt Average on 10 Punts (Long 62)
Week 5: Drew Galitz (Baylor) 50.8 Yard Punt Average on 4 Punts (Long 61)
Week 4: Tyler Newsome (Notre Dame) 52.4 Yard Punt Average on 5 Punts (Long 59)
Week 3: Will Monday (Duke) – 55.0 Yard Punt Average on 11 Punts (Long 71)
Week 2: Michael Carrizosa (San Jose State) – 56.5 Yard Punt Average on 6 Punts (Long 73)
Week 1:  Drew Kaser (Texas A&M) – 52.8 Yard Punt Average on 6 Punts (Long 64)

50+Yard Field Goals:
Week 7: Taylor Bertolet (Texas A&M) 54, Garrett Owens (Oregon State) 50
Week 6: None
Week 5: Taylor Bertolet (Texas A&M) 55, Ka’imi Fairbairn (UCLA) 53, Ross Martin (Duke) 53, Diego Gonzalez (Colorado) 52, Andrew Gantz (Cincinnati) 51, Jonathan Barnes (Louisiana Tech) 50
Week 4: Elliott Fry (South Carolina) 52, Chad Hedlund (SMU) 52, Jay Mattox (UTEP) 50, John Wallace (Louisville) 50
Week 3: Jon Croft Hollingsworth (Furman) 55, Donny Hageman (San Diego State) 54, Diego Gonzalez (Colorado) 52, Chris Moore (Northwestern State) 52, Elliott Fry (South Carolina) 51
Week 2: Conrad Ukropina (Stanford) 52, Daniel Portillo (UTSA) 50
Week 1: None

Lou Groza Stars of the Week (3 Chosen Each Week):
Week 7: Elliott Fry (South Carolina)
Week 6: Ross Martin (Duke)
Week 5: Taylor Bertolet (Texas A&M), Ross Martin (Duke)
Week 4: Andrew Gantz (Cincinnati)
Week 3: Jonathan Barnes (Louisiana Tech)
Week 2: Erik Powell (Washington State)
Week 1: Garrett Owens (Oregon State), Brad Craddock (Maryland)

Stay tuned as each week, Chris Sailer Kicking will update you on Chris Sailer Kicking in College Football!

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Chris Sailer Kicking – Week 6 College Players of the Week, Ross Martin & Alexander Kinal Honored!

Each week Chris Sailer Kicking will select College Players of the Week based off of performances from that week only.  Players selected are students of Chris Sailer Kicking and must have attended Chris Sailer Kicking camps or lessons.

Chris Sailer Kicking College Players of the Week:

Kicker:
Week 6: Ross Martin (Duke) 3 for 3 Field Goals (Long 40) 5 for 5 Extra Points
Week 5: Taylor Bertolet (Texas A&M) 3 for 4 Field Goals (Long 55) 3 for 3 Extra Points
Week 4: Andrew Gantz (Cincinnati) 4 for 5 Field Goals (Long 49), 4 for 4 Extra Points
Week 3: Aidan Schneider (Oregon) 4 for 4 Field Goals (Long 40), 7 for 7 Extra Points
Week 2: Redford Jones (Tulsa) 4 for 4 Field Goals (Long 34), 4 for 4 Extra Points
Week 1: Garrett Owens (Oregon State) 4 for 4 Field Goals (Long 45), 2 for 2 Extra Points

Punter:
Week 6: Alexander Kinal (Wake Forest) 49.3 Yard Punt Average on 10 Punts (Long 62)
Week 5: Drew Galitz (Baylor) 50.8 Yard Punt Average on 4 Punts (Long 61)
Week 4: Tyler Newsome (Notre Dame) 52.4 Yard Punt Average on 5 Punts (Long 59)
Week 3: Will Monday (Duke) – 55.0 Yard Punt Average on 11 Punts (Long 71)
Week 2: Michael Carrizosa (San Jose State) – 56.5 Yard Punt Average on 6 Punts (Long 73)
Week 1:  Drew Kaser (Texas A&M) – 52.8 Yard Punt Average on 6 Punts (Long 64)

50+Yard Field Goals:
Week 6: None
Week 5: Taylor Bertolet (Texas A&M) 55, Ka’imi Fairbairn (UCLA) 53, Ross Martin (Duke) 53, Diego Gonzalez (Colorado) 52, Andrew Gantz (Cincinnati) 51, Jonathan Barnes (Louisiana Tech) 50
Week 4: Elliott Fry (South Carolina) 52, Chad Hedlund (SMU) 52, Jay Mattox (UTEP) 50, John Wallace (Louisville) 50
Week 3: Jon Croft Hollingsworth (Furman) 55, Donny Hageman (San Diego State) 54, Diego Gonzalez (Colorado) 52, Chris Moore (Northwestern State) 52, Elliott Fry (South Carolina) 51
Week 2: Conrad Ukropina (Stanford) 52, Daniel Portillo (UTSA) 50
Week 1: None

Lou Groza Stars of the Week (3 Chosen Each Week):
Week 6: Ross Martin (Duke)
Week 5: Taylor Bertolet (Texas A&M), Ross Martin (Duke)
Week 4: Andrew Gantz (Cincinnati)
Week 3: Jonathan Barnes (Louisiana Tech)
Week 2: Erik Powell (Washington State)
Week 1: Garrett Owens (Oregon State), Brad Craddock (Maryland)

Stay tuned as each week, Chris Sailer Kicking will update you on Chris Sailer Kicking in College Football!

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Chris Sailer Kicking – Week 5 College Players of the Week, Taylor Bertolet & Drew Galitz Honored!

Each week Chris Sailer Kicking will select College Players of the Week based off of performances from that week only.  Players selected are students of Chris Sailer Kicking and must have attended Chris Sailer Kicking camps or lessons.

Chris Sailer Kicking College Players of the Week:

Kicker:
Week 5: Taylor Bertolet (Texas A&M) 3 for 4 Field Goals (Long 55) 3 for 3 Extra Points
Week 4: Andrew Gantz (Cincinnati) 4 for 5 Field Goals (Long 49), 4 for 4 Extra Points
Week 3: Aidan Schneider (Oregon) 4 for 4 Field Goals (Long 40), 7 for 7 Extra Points
Week 2: Redford Jones (Tulsa) 4 for 4 Field Goals (Long 34), 4 for 4 Extra Points
Week 1: Garrett Owens (Oregon State) 4 for 4 Field Goals (Long 45), 2 for 2 Extra Points

Punter:
Week 5: Drew Galitz (Baylor) 50.8 Yard Punt Average on 4 Punts (Long 61)
Week 4: Tyler Newsome (Notre Dame) 52.4 Yard Punt Average on 5 Punts (Long 59)
Week 3: Will Monday (Duke) – 55.0 Yard Punt Average on 11 Punts (Long 71)
Week 2: Michael Carrizosa (San Jose State) – 56.5 Yard Punt Average on 6 Punts (Long 73)
Week 1:  Drew Kaser (Texas A&M) – 52.8 Yard Punt Average on 6 Punts (Long 64)

50+Yard Field Goals:
Week 5: Taylor Bertolet (Texas A&M) 55, Ka’imi Fairbairn (UCLA) 53, Ross Martin (Duke) 53, Diego Gonzalez (Colorado) 52, Andrew Gantz (Cincinnati) 51, Jonathan Barnes (Louisiana Tech) 50
Week 4: Elliott Fry (South Carolina) 52, Chad Hedlund (SMU) 52, Jay Mattox (UTEP) 50, John Wallace (Louisville) 50
Week 3: Jon Croft Hollingsworth (Furman) 55, Donny Hageman (San Diego State) 54, Diego Gonzalez (Colorado) 52, Chris Moore (Northwestern State) 52, Elliott Fry (South Carolina) 51
Week 2: Conrad Ukropina (Stanford) 52, Daniel Portillo (UTSA) 50
Week 1: None

Lou Groza Stars of the Week (3 Chosen Each Week):
Week 5: Taylor Bertolet (Texas A&M), Ross Martin (Duke)
Week 4: Andrew Gantz (Cincinnati)
Week 3: Jonathan Barnes (Louisiana Tech)
Week 2: Erik Powell (Washington State)
Week 1: Garrett Owens (Oregon State), Brad Craddock (Maryland)

Stay tuned as each week, Chris Sailer Kicking will update you on Chris Sailer Kicking in College Football!

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Chris Sailer Kicking – GA Fall Camp Recap, Onate Wins It!

The third stop on the 2015 Chris Sailer Kicking Fall Tour was in Atlanta, GA.  Well over 100 specialists were in attendance at the always highly anticipated 1-day camp.  As each year passes, this region of the country produces more and more college specialists.  The talent at this camp is top notch.  Winning any competition against this level of talent is definitely a huge resume builder.  Take a look at the results:

Overall Camp Champion:
Frankie Onate (2017, FL) – Frankie is a newcomer to Chris Sailer Kicking.  He is a major talent.  His field goals are excellent.  His kickoffs are near the very top of his class.  And he is also an impressive punter.  Perhaps his strongest quality is his confidence and ability to perform under pressure.  Frankie should be a top prospect in this class.

Field Goal Champion:
Alex Woznick (2016, SC) – Alex is one of the very best kickers in the nation.  The long time Chris Sailer Kicking kicker continued to dominance of camps.  On this day he was the field goal champion.  He connected on over 90% of his field goals over the course of the day and showed range of 55+ yards off the ground.  He kicks with great confidence.  His kickoffs are D1 ready.  OFFER NOW!!!

Kickoff Champion:
Mitchell Wasson (2016, GA) – Mitchell is a sure fire D1 scholarship pick.  He has perhaps the strongest leg in the nation and as much potential as anyone.  He won the kickoff competition with ease by hitting several balls over 70 yards with 4.20+ hang time.  His field goals are also outstanding.  OFFER NOW!!!

Punt Champion:
Tucker Day (2017, TN) – Tucker is the real deal.  The #1 ranked punter in the nation proved why once again.  He routinely hits punts of 50+ yards with over 5.0+ second hang time.  Tucker is a great athlete with endless potential.  He is also very strong on both field goal and kickoff.  He knows how to handle pressure very well.  OFFER NOW!!!

2016 D1 Prospects:
Jackson Morris – Strong, consistent and technically sound kicker.  D1 ready.
Samuel Sloman – Dominant field goal kicker.  Kickoffs are solid.
Edwin Noyes – Developing D1 punter.  Shows potential as a kicker.
Rogier Ten Lohuis – Big, strong and talented. Could be a real sleeper.

Other 2016 Standouts: Caleb Chadwell, Daryian Basco, Logan Wheat, Noah Gilbert

2017 D1 Prospects:
Joseph Doyle – Talented combo (K/P) player.  Could dominate Vegas XXVII.
Nick Rice – Huge leg. Tons of potential.

Other 2017 Standouts – Branden Glick, Dawson Bundrum, Isaac Garcia, Karim Darwiche, Keaton Borrelli, Manny Herrera, Michael Leisle, Matt Norton

2018 D1 Prospect:
Jake Camarda – #1 kicking and punting prospect in the nation.

Other 2018 Standouts: Bryce Jones, Cade Lejune, Cole Hanna, Joseph Gannon, Luke Darby, Micah Gilbert, Wesley Wells

2019 D1 Prospect:
Will Reichard – Simply outstanding for his age.

Other 2019 Standouts: Bernardo Burgos, Jackson Barkley, Patrick Markwalter

2020 Standout: Parker Hannon

Chris Sailer Kicking will next make stops in CA, NJ, FL, IL, and TX.  As always the big finale will be VEGAS XXVII (January 16-17) where kickers, punters and long snappers from all over the world gather to learn & compete with the best.  #TeamSailer
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Chris Sailer Kicking WA Fall Camp Recap

Chris Sailer Kicking made a stop in Seattle, WA on October 4th on a beautiful northwest day.  This was the first major Chris Sailer Kicking camp in Seattle.  The decision has been made, based on the major success, that Seattle will now become a permanent stop in the Fall, Spring and Summer in the future. Take a look at the results:

Overall Camp Champion:
Dylan Baluyut (2016) – Dylan was the most consistent performers on field goals all day long.  He enjoyed great success in the morning session and followed it by coming through under pressure during the competitions.  He was a field goal champion on this day and also won the head to head finals competition. He has a college future.

Field Goal Champion:
Riley Betcher (2016) – Riley was one of the most impressive all around prospects at the camp.  He hit a solid ball on field goals.  His kickoffs show future college potential.  And he was also one of the better punters at camp.  Most importantly, he does very well under pressure.

Kickoff Champion:
Ryan Henderson (2017) – Ryan is a talented junior that shows great future potential.  Kickoffs are his major strength.  He averaged over 60+ yards and hit many ball over 3.8 second hang time.  He showed that he can hit nice field goals at times as well.  One to keep a close eye in the coming years.

Punt Champion:
Kyle Sentkowski (2017) – The Chris Sailer Kicking “Event Elite” Member was the most talented all around specialist at the camp. His field goals are excellent, showing 50+ yard range off the ground.  His kickoffs are strong and near the top of his class.  On this day he was the punt champion.  He hit many ball over 50+ yards with 5.0+ second hang time.  The future is bright for this combo player.

Other 2016 Standouts: Alex Wielenga, Mathias Loft, Michael Leshchshyn, Tanner Ohlsen, Thomas Winfield

Other 2017 Standouts: Andrew Sears, Johan Zetterberg, Kevin Ramsey, Nathan Morrow, Tyler Padilla

2018 Standouts: Ajay Culhane, Conor Calvert, Trevor Gentner

2019 Standouts: Griffin Cummins, Tanner Shattuck

Chris Sailer Kicking will next make stops in CA, NJ, FL, IL, and TX.  As always the big finale will be VEGAS XXVII (January 16-17) where kickers, punters and long snappers from all over the world gather to learn & compete with the best.  #TeamSailer
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Official vs. Unofficial Visits Explained

Have question about what official visit means?  What unofficial means?  Here are the answers in their simplest form per the NCAA.

Official vs. Unofficial Visits

Official visits
• Five official visits permitted. Each school may only receive one.
• Visit can’t be taken until opening day of classes in senior year of high school.
• Football program permitted maximum of 56 official visits.
• Official visit can’t exceed 48 hours starting when recruit arrives on campus.
• Transportation, lodging, meals, entertainment expenses for recruit and parent or legal guardian paid for by school.
• Test score, high school transcript and NCAA eligibility center verification required before visit.

Unofficial visits
• Recruits are permitted unlimited visits at their own expense.
• Can be taken at any time of the year except during dead periods.
• No limits to length of visit.
• School may not provide or pay for transportation to and from campus.
• No permissible entertainment except three passes to a home game.
• No test scores, transcript or eligibility center verification required.

 

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Best Available Chris Sailer Kicking 2016 Kickers, Punters & Combo Prospects. OFFER NOW!!!

As we enter October 2015, we enter a crucial stage of recruiting for the Class of 2016.  Week 5 of College Football is underway.  Some specialists have excelled at the college level ,while others have failed.  College coaches will soon have to make serious decisions for the future of their programs.  They will revisit their recruiting boards and get back on the recruiting trail.  Performance, contacts and most importantly exposure will play a large role in who lands the next round of scholarship offers.  How did you perform this past summer in front of college coaches?  How is your current season going?  Have you taken unofficial visits and shown genuine interest in college programs? What is your current ranking with Chris Sailer Kicking?

Take a look at who I believe should be the next 15 Kickers, Punters & Combo Players offered full ride D1 Scholarships!

Kickers:
1. Mitchell Wasson (GA)
2. Kekoa Sasaoka (HI)
3. Diego Marquez (CA)
4. Brandon Gracia (CA)
5. JD Dellinger (NC)
Next Best: Eric Silvester (NY)

Punters:
1. Austin Kent (NC)
2. Jet Toner (HI)
3. Marshall Long (NC)
4. Seth Kujawski (NC)
5. Kyle Thompson (CA)
Next Best: Thomas Manning (CA)

Combo Players:
1. Jared Smolar (IN)
2. Jake Verity (GA)
3. Nate Needham (IN)
4. Jaime Medina (CA)
5. Jared Porter (CA)
Next Best: Charlie Scott (CO)

*The above athletes are not currently verbally committed to any University or College.

The above athletes have proven themselves time and time again in all aspects of the game.  They are physically and mentally ready for the next level.  They are fine young men that are going to be great leaders on and off the field.  I stand behind them with 100% certainty.  College coaches…. OFFER NOW!!!

Fall Camps are set to begin this weekend in Seatlle, WA.  NC, GA, CA, NJ, FL, IL, TX to follow.  The largest exposure camp in the world, Vegas XXVII will take place January 16-17, 2016.  National Letter of Intent Day is February 3rd. Want the best instruction? Want to get ranked? Want to improve your ranking? Want to get the necessary exposure? See you soon!

Visit ChrisSailerKicking.com for more information and registration details.

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Chris Sailer Kicking – Week 4 College Players of the Week

Each week Chris Sailer Kicking will select College Players of the Week based off of performances from that week only.  Players selected are students of Chris Sailer Kicking and must have attended Chris Sailer Kicking camps or lessons.

Chris Sailer Kicking College Players of the Week:

Kicker:
Week 4: Andrew Gantz (Cincinnati) 4 for 5 Field Goals (Long 49), 4 for 4 Extra Points
Week 3: Aidan Schneider (Oregon) 4 for 4 Field Goals (Long 40), 7 for 7 Extra Points
Week 2: Redford Jones (Tulsa) 4 for 4 Field Goals (Long 34), 4 for 4 Extra Points
Week 1: Garrett Owens (Oregon State) 4 for 4 Field Goals (Long 45), 2 for 2 Extra Points

Punter:
Week 4: Tyler Newsome (Notre Dame) 52.4 Yard Punt Average on 5 Punts (Long 59)
Week 3: Will Monday (Duke) – 55.0 Yard Punt Average on 11 Punts (Long 71)
Week 2: Michael Carrizosa (San Jose State) – 56.5 Yard Punt Average on 6 Punts (Long 73)
Week 1:  Drew Kaser (Texas A&M) – 52.8 Yard Punt Average on 6 Punts (Long 64)

50+Yard Field Goals:
Week 4: Elliott Fry (South Carolina) 52, Chad Hedlund (SMU) 52, Jay Mattox (UTEP) 50, John Wallace (Louisville) 50
Week 3: Jon Croft Hollingsworth (Furman) 55, Donny Hageman (San Diego State) 54, Diego Gonzalez (Colorado) 52, Chris Moore (Northwestern State) 52, Elliott Fry (South Carolina) 51
Week 2: Conrad Ukropina (Stanford) 52, Daniel Portillo (UTSA) 50
Week 1: None

Lou Groza Stars of the Week (3 Chosen Each Week):
Week 4:
Week 3: Jonathan Barnes (Louisiana Tech)
Week 2: Erik Powell (Washington State)
Week 1: Garrett Owens (Oregon State), Brad Craddock (Maryland)

Stay tuned as each week, Chris Sailer Kicking will update you on Chris Sailer Kicking in College Football!

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Survival Guide for Chris Sailer Kicking / Rubio Long Snapping Parents

Quick Reference for the BIG Questions to the little Questions 

Most Parent/Guardians of LS and K/P have.
 
I’m just a mom. It sounds funny to say that out loud, as any parent knows being a parent is not for the faint of heart, so using the phrase “just a mom” is a HUGE understatement. Equally understated is to use the phrase “just the long snapper/kicker/punter.” So, go ahead and move past the “just” and recognize the vitally important role your son (or possibly daughter, but for the sake of time and space I’ll refer to the student athlete in the male form) plays on his team. Special teams, and specifically the long snapper and kicker/punter have, can, and will make or break a football game. I encourage you to go to www.chrissailerkicking.com and read more in depth blogs on this subject via the link to Rubio’s blog and Sailer’s blog. Another quick and extremely relevant example would be the 2014 college football season during which both regular season and bowl games had outcomes determined by the performance of special teams in the last few seconds. Now, moving forward, I’m just a mom and my kid’s just a long snapper, and the past year and a half has been one of the most exciting journeys…EVER…so buckle up buttercup, here we go!
 
 
Your First Rubio/Sailer Camp-
     1. This is typically the one day camp that is held closest to you. You probably googled long snapping or kicking instruction/technique, or heard of Rubio and/or Sailer by word of mouth, and now you’re all signed up for your first Rubio/Sailer Camp for your son. **Prepare to be blown away.** We were. My son had just finished his freshman season, having been pulled to the varsity team and become the starting long snapper for his high school football team. His high school is known for its football program in our state, and my son became a really big fish in a small pond literally overnight. He loved it. We, his parents, thought he was the best thing that had ever happened to long snapping. Once we got to that first camp, the “pond” suddenly got much, much bigger. That’s not to say my son wasn’t good, what I mean is we saw very quickly that if he wanted to get serious about football and college, there was work to be done.
          -This may or may not be your experience and that’s okay. Every situation is unique, and it’s important to take the suggestions that help.
          -You are going to be given A LOT of information. Relax! (You’ll find this to be a recurring theme throughout this experience.) Give it time and it will sink in. Also, Sailer and Rubio are two of the most open and receptive individuals/professionals when it comes to questions. A quick tip, though- after this first camp, when a question comes up, go to the website first. If you still can’t find an answer you are looking for, ask! 
     
     2. What do I need to take for camp?
Sounds a bit silly, but until you’ve been there, done that, (and now can even get the t-shirt), there are things I definitely would recommend having on hand that I never thought of in the beginning.
          -Wear comfortable clothes and shoes. You will be very involved in this experience and while I love my cute sandals and sundresses as much as the next mom (comfortable clothing applies to dads as well; choose clothes you’d wear when at home working with your son), this isn’t a beauty pageant. Get out your socks and tennis/running/athletic shoes, shorts, and a t-shirt and be ready to work and learn with your son.
          -Bring a chair, you’ll need to be in close proximity to the instruction. Usually that means on the sidelines until Sailer or Rubio call parents to the field. Standing all day or sitting on the grass/turf isn’t ideal.
          -If possible, bring a cooler with water. Water is ALWAYS provided, but if you’re at a camp in the heat of summer, a small cooler (even the soft, foldable ones) that can carry water bottles with ice/cold packs definitely comes in handy. Your athlete should be hydrating daily. The reality is, so should parents. If you or your athlete waits to take in water until thirsty, you’re doing it wrong. HYDRATE, HYDRATE, HYDRATE! If the camp isn’t close enough to drive to and you are flying, Google the nearest Dollar Store, Dollar General, WalMart, Target, etc. It’s worth the extra ten dollars to have cold water on hand. 
          -Sunscreen. You and your athlete will be outside (weather permitting) for the better part of eight hours. Even if the camp you and your athlete are attending is during one of the cooler months, you may need sunscreen. If it’s a summer camp and you enjoy having a nose, it’s a must.
          -You are going to have about an hour for lunch. Be prepared. Google restaurants close by that you can get in and out of quickly. Another option is bring lunch with you- think tailgating. This can be a good idea for several reasons: you don’t have to rush, your athlete has more time to relax and regroup, and you will likely have the opportunity to get to know others at the camp. It’s important to realize this group of young men will see each other again, and they are building friendships on the field, so build friendships with the parents around you. Be smart, though. If it’s 100* outside, go somewhere out of the heat for this break. Otherwise, I’m confident EMS will gladly take you somewhere cooler- just saying.
          -Bring your camera/phone. Rubio and Sailer are used to taking pictures with athletes at their camps at the end. Even if your kid isn’t big on pictures, DO IT. You’ll look back at some point and realize how far your kid has come, and you’ll be glad you did.
     
     3. Why does Rubio/Sailer know other kids’ names/parents/families? Will they remember my son? Are they even watching them?
          -Don’t flip out!! Some of the athletes and their families have been working with Rubio/Sailer for years. Just because they know some of the athletes immediately doesn’t mean they aren’t watching your kid. In fact, you just might hear them called by a nickname that will stick (ex. BaconHead, Oregon, MadDawg). Your son may get a “big daddy” thrown his way. This happens because they ARE noticing your kid, and while in that moment they may not use your athlete’s full name, they use these kinds of nicknames because that’s one of the ways they remember the athletes. You may also notice that your athlete is being photographed and videoed…a lot. Relax, Rubio and Sailer are noticing your son from the moment you walk up to the registration table until the moment you leave that afternoon (likely dragging, tired, a little overwhelmed by all the information you’ve been given, and definitely excited and motivated for the future).
           -Remember the big fish/small pond example? This is when you’ll probably realize that while your kid is talented, so are many other kids. Again, relax. At the end of the day, your son has just learned from the best, trained with the best, and been evaluated by the best. Once rankings/evaluations are posted, your athlete is going to have his strengths highlighted while also given constructive criticism. This part of the process ideally will encourage, motivate, and drive your son to put what he has learned to good use if he hasn’t already. Rubio has an excellent blog that explains how his rankings are done, so, again, go to the website, click on Rubio’s blog and search for how his rankings/evaluations are done. It’s fair, honest, and really quite easy to understand.
          -Be patient. Believe me when I say I understand, patience is not one of my virtues. However, Rubio and Sailer will tell the athletes and parents a date their rankings will come out. If you aren’t already, you and your athlete should follow, friend, like, etc. Sailer and Rubio on all social media sources. They will let everyone know via their blogs and social media that the rankings are up. 
     -Get familiar with social media- like yesterday. You will hear it, read it, and maybe wake up repeating it: Be sure your athlete is being appropriate when using social media. Colleges are watching and noting EVERYTHING your athlete is doing if they are a potential recruit. Think of it like Santa Claus (you better watch out…he knows when you’ve been bad or good so be good for goodness sake)- he’s everywhere! Does your kid want to play ball or lose a spot on a team over a retweet? If you don’t know what a retweet is, figure it out right now. 
 
 
How often should my son attend a Rubio/Sailer camp? Isn’t once enough? What about Vegas?
     1. I am a parent that looks for a really good reason to do something, I evaluate its worth as well as the sacrifice needed to obtain a goal. My son that I’ve referenced here has three siblings, so a great deal of thought has to go into these decisions. The following are my thoughts as a parent on this subject:
          -When preparing to have our son, my husband and I put a great deal of time and effort into being sure he would have the things he needed to thrive. While my husband (as a new dad) was awesome at helping, and he could change a diaper, the first few weeks of diaper changes were pretty comical. Sure, our son had a diaper on, but with practice he had a diaper on that didn’t fall off when we picked him up. Another example would be when our son got his learner’s permit to drive. He was very diligent about safety, and could get us from point A to B. But with practice, he stopped using the brake like an on/off switch. The point is, your athlete will learn great things at one camp, but if his desire is to be the best he can be or to play football at the next level, giving him more opportunities to fine tune his skills is imperative. Yes, attend more than one camp. 
          -While things like form, speed, accuracy, and consistency are themes that remain unchanged at each camp, I can say with certainty that my son has learned something new each time he’s attended a Rubio/Sailer camp. That could mean learning a new drill all the way to walking up to register by himself and displaying the confidence he is building in himself. The best analogy I can think of for this part of the process is much like when one learns to drive a car with a manual transmission. There’s that really fine, smooth moment you let off the clutch and press the gas pedal. In the beginning, most of us had those “herky, jerky” moments and had to restart, or have heard a parent yell “you’re grinding the gears.” If you only attend one camp, it’s probable that you and your athlete will approach most of the day together. If you attend a second camp, and you nudge your son to handle things himself, depending on the kid, it’s going to be somewhat “herky, jerky.” The more opportunities to practice and fine tune skills on and off the field, the smoother the transition will be for your son to become a confident and independent individual in a very positive way.
          
     2. Vegas. If I could go back in time, I would have gotten my son to this event sooner. It’s honestly not something one can explain, it’s the experience itself. You will hear Sailer and Rubio say go more than once. ABSOLUTELY! The first time you and your son attend this event, it’s like the first day of high school as a freshman. Most of the time is spent figuring everything out (unless your son is a seasoned world traveler that never gets jet lag and is intimidated by nothing). If you’ve ever seen the movie “Hoosiers” (your son probably has not, but hopefully you saw it back in the day), there is a scene where the team makes it to the BIG championship game. They all walk in the arena looking like a bunch of deer in headlights. The coach has them measure the court, and so on. This is much like that first trip to Vegas. Your son will realize the distance to the target hasn’t changed, Sailer and Rubio haven’t changed, and get more comfortable with what comes along with traveling, navigating this mega event, etc. 
 
 
Is it (the camps) really worth it?
     1. The easy, quick answer: YES!
 
     2. The training experience offered by Chris Sailer and Chris Rubio truly is worth it, and here is why:
          -If we are talking dollars and cents, as well as probability and statistics, then it’s a no-brainer. Add up what you would spend on the camps your son attends in a given year (everything- travel, food, hotel, camp, etc.). Nope, it’s not cheap. Now add up the cost of a four year education (and even pick a school with a lesser tuition, but add in staying on campus, a meal plan, transportation of some sort, etc.). You likely have just seen in black and white how beneficial this can be.
          -Do some research. Look at the options out there. It will quickly become clear NO OTHER CAMP offers the same degree of exposure, education, and instruction, AND educates/involves the parent/guardian (maximizing your athlete’s potential by giving him the tools to work hard and smart after camp is over). This is the real deal. 
          -What your son will take away from the Sailer/Rubio camp experience is priceless on several levels. First, this is my son’s goal, his dream- not mine, not my husband’s- his. If this is your athlete’s passion, you will see great things; if it’s your dream and not your kid’s you’re doing it wrong- stop. Second, this is an awesome opportunity for your son to learn responsibility, confidence, and independence BEFORE he steps out into this big ole world on his own. If my son chose to never pick up a football again, what he has learned and gained is more than we could teach him on our own as parents, and that alone makes every bit worth it. Finally, the day I stood back with my husband and watched our son walk up to a college’s special teams coordinator, shake his hand, look him in the eye and have a conversation with him on his own, I knew we were on the right track.
 
I cannot stress enough how essential the website (www.chrissailerkicking.com) is. Hopefully you’ve gained some insight and can relax and enjoy this awesome time with your athlete. It’s been one of the best decisions we have ever made.Written by Ashley Culbertson (Long Snapping Parent, MS)

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