Olympia High School Kicker Jonathan Messina With New Personal Best

Olympia High School kicker Jonathan Messina recorded a new personal best, with a cross wind, of 52 yards this week. Take a look!

Tips with Nick: Punt Grip

In this all new video from Tips with Nick, Coach Nick Fleming explains how to properly grip the ball when punting. Watch now!

VIDEO: Olympia High School Kicker Phillip Shure with Career Best 65 Yard Field Goal

Meet Our New Snapping Coach: Former UCF Snapper Scott Teal

Scott Teal was a snapper for the University of Central Florida from 2012 - 2014.

How did you get involved in football and become a snapper?

In high school, my head coach proposed that I learn how to long snap because the senior long snapper, Chris Guido, was near graduation. I spent an off season learning from Chris and attending camps nearby in Orlando and across the southeast United States. My senior year of high school was my only playing experience as a long snapper prior to college.


What is the best advice you received as a snapper?

The best advice I have received as a long snapper is to have a short memory. As a long snapper, you are probably going to make a mistake at some point in your career. Mistakes should be used as a learning experiencem to understand why it happened and how you can correct it. You should never dwell on a bad play. Instead, look forward to the opportunity of the next play.


Why did you want to start coaching?

I started coaching because I want to help out younger kids learn how to long snap. I wish I had a coach to teach me how to long snap at an earlier age and I want to be able to do that for the kids seeking help.


What did you learn from your experience playing for University of Central Florida?

While at UCF, I learned how to take pride in my work. When I committed to investing physically and mentally into my work, or in this case long snapping, the results were very rewarding. Instead of only working and hoping for benefits, I learned to enjoy working and pushing my own limits.


What do you hope to teach All American Kicking students?

Every snapper’s technique is unique, and some things work for some that may not work for another. I want to teach All American Kicking students techniques that worked for me and that I still work to perfect, but more importantly I want to teach them the mentality and work ethic it takes to be a successful long snapper and student-athlete.

Tips with Nick: The Basics - Body Lean

Not sure whether to bend at the waist or how much lean you should put into the ball? Coach Nick Fleming's all new Tips with Nick addresses body lean and what you need to know when making a proper kick. Watch now!

Tips with Nick: The Basics - Angle of Contact

Coach Nick Fleming outlines the basics of angle of attack and what it takes to achieve a successful kick. Watch him explain angle of attack and his other basic tips to help you improve. Click here for more Tips with Nick.

5 Questions with Former University of Central Florida Kicker Shawn Moffitt

All American Kicking Coach Shawn Moffitt works with students on Sunday afternoon.

All American Kicking is excited to welcome a student of our program and former University of Central Florida kicker, Shawn Moffitt, to our coaching staff. Moffitt is the all-time leader in points scored at UCF with 314, in addition to field goals made with 53. Moffitt holds several other school records, including the single season record for field goals made at 21 in 23 attempts. His 91.3% field goal percentage is also a school record. Moffitt brings four years of college experience as well as years of training with Coach Nick Fleming to the field, a unique combination he hopes will help the students he will be instructing in our Sunday afternoon sessions. 

What made you want to join All American Kicking as a coach after being a former student of the program?

All American Kicking gave me the tools to succeed at the high school level as well as the process to be looked at by almost every single college. I think All American Kicking is the best way for specialists to be looked at by trained former specialists. I want to be able to help kickers win the varsity spot and head to a great college to play football.

What have you learned by working with Coach Nick Fleming over the years?
Coach Nick has stressed consistency with my training over the years. We tweaked little things here and there when we needed to, but the consistent kicking two to three times a week helped me maintain a peak level. Coach Nick has also helped me with the mental aspect of kicking, including pressure, height, and operation time to give yourself the best chance at making it through those uprights.

What key tips will you hope you convey to students?

I want to convey not only the key tips that Coach Nick has taught me but also different tips I have learned during my four year campaign at the University of Central Florida. Key tips such as effort, enthusiasm, consistency, and a good work ethic.

What did you learn from playing at UCF that you want to share with your new students?
Being a specialist is the constant pursuit of the perfect rep. You can have a bad kick/play but you can never have a bad day, look towards the next rep and make it your best one yet.

With your time playing for UCF behind you now, what are your future plans?
I plan on being coached by Nick until pro day where I will hopefully get looked at by NFL teams; I will also try my hardest to coach the younger AAK guys.

To register to work with Coach Moffitt during our 8 to 1 player to coach ratio Sunday afternoon session, click here.

Tips with Nick: The Basics - Foot Contact

Coach Nick Fleming's basic video instruction continues with Foot Contact. For more instruction and to watch the first five videos of the series, click here.

Tommy Townsend Reflects on U.S. Army All American Bowl Experience

                                    All American Kicking's Tommy Townsend and punter of Boone High School was selected for this year's U.S. Army All American Bowl on January 3, 2015. After the game, Townsend reflected on his experience, discussed what he learned by playing in this year's game and shared what he'll be doing before attending University of Tennessee in the Fall.

Another Successful Holiday Kicking Camp

Coach Nick Fleming with All American Kicking's College Guys during the holiday kicking camp.

Thanks to everyone who attended our Annual Holiday Kicking Camp with our College Guys! We had a great turnout with lots of students in attendance to learn from All American Kicking's college punters, kickers and snappers who helped instruct on Saturday.

Our college guys early on Saturday morning getting ready to teach!

Coach Nick Fleming taking students through some warm up's before kicking.

University of Florida's Johnny Townsend showing the students how it's done.

University of South Alabama's Aleem Sunanon working with younger students.

Temple's Austin Jones sharing some insights from his successful season.

Lenoir Rhyne's Hunter Haire getting one of our students lined up just right.

Tusculum's Ian O'Grady working with a fellow snapper.

Colorado State's Ricky Buckner sharing a few tips during the kicking camp. 

Coach Nick Fleming showing the college guys he's still got it!

Florida High School State Championship Results and Upcoming Bowl Game Schedule!

December 13:

Class 8A State Championship

Apopka 30, Miami Christopher Columbus 23

• Congratulations to Apopka's Tyler L'Heureux on the team's second state title in three years! Tyler added two extra points for the team in Saturday's victory.

Class 6A State Championship

Armwood 10, 24 Miami Central

• Sterling Hofrichter of Armwood with a 40 yard field goal and extra point in his last high school game. Sterling has committed to Syracuse University for next year.

Watch Boone's Tommy Townsend compete in this year's Army All American Bowl
January 3, 2015 at 1p.m. on NBC.

December 20:

Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl

Colorado State's Ricky Buckner vs. Utah
3:30pm on ABC

Raycom Media Camellia Bowl

South Alabama's Aleem Sunanon vs. Bowling Green
9:15pm on ESPN

December 26:

Bitcoin St. Petersburg Bowl

UCF's Shawn Moffitt vs. NC State
8:00pm on ESPN

December 27:

Hyundai Sun Bowl

Duke's Danny Stirt vs. Arizona State
2:00pm on CBS

January 3:

Birmingham Bowl

Florida's Frankie Velez and Johnny Townsend vs. East Carolina
12:00pm on ESPN

Five Questions with Olympic Gold Medalist and AAK Strength Coach Dwight Thomas

Strength Coach Dwight Thomas working with students at All American Kicking Session.
Photo Courtesy: Dwight Thomas

Dwight Thomas is an Olymic gold medalist in track and is now All American Kicking's strength coach. A natural born athlete and instructor, Dwight shares not only how he found his way into teaching students but also what he considers the most important advice he shares with athletes.


How did you get into track and what do you enjoy most about it?

I got into athletics at an early age. I started organized sports at age 8 when I was in the third grade. I remember my first competition against a really good friend of mine. We were teammates and he won the race we were both in. I could tell how happy he was and the joy that was on his face. That day motivated me to practice harder and continue my pursue to become the best. Over the next few years I was the fastest student in my middle school and high school. What I love most about track is the adrenaline and the rush from competing knowing its an individual sport and you have only yourself to depend on.

Coach Dwight Thomas instructing students. Photo Courtesy: Dwight Thomas

Why did you want to start coaching and working with students on strength training?

After being a professional athlete for 10 years I started assisting and coaching my high school track team in Burtonsville, Maryland and discovered, hey this coaching thing is fun after all. I could talk all day about the joy of coaching youth sports and working with kids. The most important element is teaching and imparting athletic wisdom upon the next generation of college athletes and professional athletes. With my experience with strength training over the pass years competing in Olympic sport, I know how hard and how important it is to become faster and stronger, not only by talent but with wisdom and work ethic. I have been coaching about two and a half year at this point. I first started with my high school then my personal coach told me to pursue it further. He knew I had the personality and the patience that a lot of individuals lack at coaching kids.

What do you enjoy about working with the students?

Being an Olympic athlete I enjoy teaching and sharing my knowledge that will stick with these kids and help them with the pursuit of their goals. Coaches like myself enjoy seeing the end results of the hard work they have put into every session and finally the results show.

What are your key areas of advice or tips that you give to students?

This might sound so cliche, but I always emphasize how important school is and the correlation it has with sports. Without the grades, you won't get into college and you won’t be eligible to participate in college sports. Therefore, at some point, each athlete will figure out that sports and education are best friends.

How did you get involved with All American Kicking?

I got introduced to Nick through a mutual friend of mine that went to University of Florida that ran track. Nick and I went to Florida around the same time but we never met. But it is a blessing working together today. I have learned so much from Nick, seeing how he interacts with his students and how well he teaches them. I'm very happy to be working with All American Kicking.

AAK High School State Finals and College Bowl Game Schedules

December 5:

Bishop Moore 17, Plantation American Heritage 20

• Jake McIntyre of Bishop Moore with 2 extra points and a 39 yard field goal in Friday's game.

Apopka 45, Manatee 14

• Apopka's Tyler L'Heureux with 6 extra points and 21 yard field goal in Friday's victory.

Armwood 19, Choctawhatchee 15

• Armwood's Sterling Hofrichter with 2 extra points and a 45 yard field goal.

High School State Finals - December 18, 2014

Good luck to Apopka's Tyler L'Heureux headed to the 8A State Final at the Orlando Citrus Bowl! Apopka will face Miami Christopher Columbus at 7:07pm Saturday Evening.

Armwood's Sterling Hofrichter will face Miami Central at the Orlando Citrus Bowl in the 6A Final. The two will square off at 1pm.

December 4:

UCF 32, East Carolina 30

• Shawn Moffitt of UCF with four field goals for 42, 38, 30, and 31 as well as 2 extra points in Thursday's win.

December 6:

Temple 10, Tulane 3

• Temple's Austin Jones with a 37 yard field goal.

All American Kicking Bowl Bound:

December 20:

Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl

Colorado State's Ricky Buckner vs. Utah
3:30pm on ABC

Raycom Media Camellia Bowl

South Alabama's Aleem Sunanon vs. Bowling Green
9:15pm on ESPN

December 26:

Bitcoin St. Petersburg Bowl

UCF's Shawn Moffitt vs. NC State
8:00pm on ESPN

December 27:

Hyundai Sun Bowl

Duke's Danny Stirt vs. Arizona State
2:00pm on CBS

January 3:

Birmingham Bowl

Florida's Frankie Velez and Johnny Townsend vs. East Carolina
12:00pm on ESPN

Register Now for All American Kicking's Holiday Camp!

The holidays are about spending time with family and friends and appreciating what we have...and we want to make sure the AAK family gets together this holiday season as well. Join us for a clinic with your AAK family. A good portion of the AAK college guys will be back to instruct and sip eggnog, as they tell stories of lessons learned about kicking, recruiting, and just being a college athlete. (Hopefully, there will be no eggnog...nor Christmas sweaters).  

Half the day will be kicking instruction from some of the most respected kicking coaches in the country and some of the most recognizable current specialist in the game.

So, whether you're a part of the family, want to see what our family is all about, or just want some free instruction...come on out!

Schedule:

December 27, 2014 - 8:00am-11:30am - Kicking/Punting/Snapping Instruction

Additional Info:

- On field film review when needed

- Please bring (2) footballs, tees and holders that you plan to use

**Due to NCAA regulations, names of college players attending can not be promoted, so you will just have to show up to see who will be there...If you've been around our system for a while, you can probably figure it out!

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!

AAK's Tommy Townsend Named Defensive Player of the Week

Photo Courtesy: Boone Athletics

Congratulations to All American Kicking punter Tommy Townsend for being named Defensive Player of the Week by the Orlando Touchdown Club. For more information on his award, click here.

AAK's Shawn Moffitt Becomes All Time Leading Scorer at UCF

Post by UCF Knights.

AAK High School and College Schedule - November 28 - 29, 2014

Third Round of Playoffs

November 28:

Dr. Phillips vs. Bradenton Manatee

Bishop Moore vs. Tampa Jesuit

Apopka vs. Jacksonville First Coast

Armwood vs. Gainesville

November 28: 

UCF vs. South Florida

South Alabama vs. Navy

Colorado State vs. Air Force

November 29:

Duke vs. Wake Forest

Florida vs. Florida State

FAU vs. Old Dominion

Temple vs. Cincinnati

AAK Scores, Stats and Social Media - November 21 - 22, 2014

Second Round of Playoffs 

Class 8A, Region 1

Lake Mary 36, Jacksonville First Coast 56

Apopka 42, West Orange 0

• Apopka's Tyler L'Heureux with 5 extra points in Friday's shutout victory.

Class 8A, Region 2

Tampa Plant 10,  Dr. Phillips 24

• Dr. Phillips' Ethan Shafer with 3 extra points and a 32 yard field goal in Friday's win.

Class 5A, Region 3

Bishop Moore 10, Merritt Island 0

• Bishop Moore's Jake McIntyre with an extra point and 22 yard field goal in Friday's victory.

Class 6A, Region 2

Armwood 42, Venice 14

• Sterling Hofrichter with six extra points for Armwood.

November 20: 

Duke 20, North Carolina 45

November 22:

Colgate 21, Bucknell 6
Wagner 23, Bryant 20
FAU 34, Middle Tennesee 35
Florida 52, Eastern Kentucky 3

• Frankie Velez with 2 extra points for the Gators in Saturday's win.

Colorado State 58, New Mexico 20
UCF 53, SMU 7

• Shawn Moffitt with 3 field goals for UCF of 34, 38 and 20 yards.

E. Illinois 16, UT Martin 37
University of South Alabama 12, South Carolina 37

• South Alabama's Aleem Sunanon had four field goals of 20, 29, 20 and 31 yards.

Brown 41,Columbia 7

• Grant Senne with 5 extra points and field goals of 35 and 29 yards for Brown.

AAK High School Playoff and College Schedule - Week of November 20 - 22, 2014

Second Round of Playoffs

Class 8A, Region 1

Lake Mary (11-0) at Jacksonville First Coast (11-0)

Apopka (7-4) at West Orange (11-0) 

Class 8A, Region 2

Tampa Plant (10-1) at Dr. Phillips (11-0)

Class 5A, Region 3

Bishop Moore (11-0) at at Merritt Island (9-2)

Class 6A, Region 2

Armwood vs. Venice

November 20: 

Duke vs. North Carolina

November 22:

Colgate vs. Bucknell

Wagner vs. Bryant

FAU vs. Middle Tennesee

Florida vs. Eastern Kentucky

Colorado State vs. New Mexico

UCF vs. SMU

E. Illinois vs. UT Martin

University of South Alabama vs. South Carolina

Brown vs. Columbia

AAK Scores, Stats and Social Media - November 14 - 15, 2014

First Round of Playoffs 

Class 8A, Region 1

Flagler Palm Coast 30, Lake Mary 43

Apopka 41,Oviedo 34

• Apopka's Tyler L'Heureux with five extra points in Friday's win.
• Oviedo's Connor O'Toole adds four extra points for his team.

Timber Creek 21, West Orange 42

• Timber Creek's Christian Morris with three extra points in Friday's game.

Class 8A, Region 2

Valrico Bloomingdale 21, Dr. Phillips 24

• Ethan Shafer of Dr. Phillips adds three extra points and a 28 yard field goal in Friday's win.

Boone 7, Tampa Plant 29

Class 7A Region 1

Wekiva 14, Orange Park Oakleaf 17

Class 5A, Region 3

Titusville 7, Bishop Moore 24

• Bishop Moore's Jake McIntyre with 3 extra points and a 25 yard field goal in Friday's victory.

Class 6A, Region 2

Armwood 38, Largo 0

• Sterling Hofrichter of Armwood with 5 extra points and a 28 yard field goal in Friday's shutout.

Class 5A

Mosley 30, Godby 35

• Ben Raybon was 3 for 3 on extra points and completed a 23 yard field goal in Friday's game.

November 14:

UCF 31, Tulsa 7

November 15:

Augustana 47, Southwest Minnesota State 3

• Augustana's Lucas Wainman added 5 extra points in Saturday's victory.

St. Francis 14, Taylor University 20

• Ryan Giachetti of St. Francis was 2 for 2 on extra points, had 4 punts for an average of 36.3 yards and 3 kickoffs.

N.C. Wesleyan 20, Huntingdon College 37

• Codan Breckenridge with 2 extra points for N.C. Wesleyan.

Colgate 27, Lehigh 30
Wagner 23, Duquesne 13

Duke 16, Virginia Tech 17
Florida 20, South Carolina 23

• Florida's Frankie Velez with 2 extra pointsand a field goal for 34 yards.

Temple 13, Penn State 30

• Temple's Austin Jones adds field goals of 25 and 31 yards and an extra point in Saturday's  game.

Geneva 3, Westminster 38
Tusculum 38, Mars Hill 35
E. Illinois 20,  Jacksonville State 27
Benedictine 29, Culver-Stockton Coll. 19
Lenoir Rhyne 27, Catawba 21

• Hunter Haire with 6 kickoffs for Lenoir Rhyne at an average of 51.3 yards.

Greensboro 36, Averett 28
University of South Alabama 24, Texas State 20

• Aleem Sunanon with 3 extra points and a 46 yard field goal for South Alabama in Saturday's win.

Brown 21, Dartmouth 44

• Brown's Grant Senne had 3 extra points as well as 5 punts for an average of 33.8 yards.