Alright, guys, let’s talk about something I tried out the other day – the onside punt in the CFL. I’ve been watching a lot of games lately, and this play always gets me hyped, so I decided to give it a shot myself.
Getting Started
First things first, I needed a football. Grabbed the old pigskin from the garage – it was a little deflated, but nothing a few pumps couldn’t fix. Then, I headed out to the local park. It wasn’t exactly a CFL stadium, but hey, you gotta work with what you’ve got, right?
The Practice
I started by just kicking the ball around, getting a feel for it. I wanted to make sure I could get some decent distance and height. Then, I started focusing on the onside punt technique. The key, as I understand it, is to kick the ball in a way that it bounces and doesn’t go too far, giving your own team a chance to recover it.
So, I lined up like I’d seen on TV, took a few steps back, and went for it. My first few attempts? Not great. The ball went all over the place – too high, too low, too far to the side. I was definitely not ready for prime time.
- Attempt 1: Way too high. The ball went sailing over where any imaginary players would be.
- Attempt 2: Shanked it. The ball dribbled pathetically to the side.
- Attempt 3: A little better, but still too much distance.
Making Adjustments
I realized I needed to adjust my approach. I shortened my steps, focused on hitting the ball lower, and tried to put more of a downward spin on it. It’s all about control, not power, with this kick.
Getting Closer
After a bunch more tries, I started to get the hang of it. The ball was bouncing more predictably, and I could see how a teammate might have a chance to grab it. I imagined myself as a CFL kicker, the crowd roaring, the game on the line… Okay, maybe I got a little carried away.
I kept practicing, visualizing the play unfolding. I even tried running after the ball myself, pretending to be both the kicker and the receiver. It was a bit awkward, but hey, gotta do what you gotta do.
The “Success”
Finally, after what felt like a hundred kicks, I got one that I was actually pretty happy with. The ball bounced perfectly, stayed relatively close, and I, acting as my own teammate, managed to “recover” it. Victory! It was a small victory, sure, but a victory nonetheless.
Wrap-up
So, that’s my onside punt adventure. It was a fun little experiment, and it definitely gave me a new appreciation for the skill of CFL players. It’s not as easy as it looks! I’m not saying I’m ready to suit up for the pros, but hey, at least I can say I gave it a shot. Maybe I’ll stick to watching the games for now, though.
