First Ever American Football Kicking Camp in Italy Gives Europeans Opportunity at NFL

San Diego, CA, August 22, 2013 --(PR.com)-- Kicking World and EuroKickers set history. The 2 instructional kicking companies joined forces and held the first ever American football kicking camp in Italy. Coach Christoph Kipperer from EuroKickers (Graz, Austria) and Coach Brent Grablachoff from Kicking World (San Diego, California) united to provide opportunity for aspiring European football kickers and punters who up until this weekend, knew very little about kicking in America.

Brent Grablachoff flew out from the US to meet Christoph in his hometown of Graz, Austria. The pair evaluated 15 specialists who attended the camp in Bolzano, Italy that came to learn and improve their field goal, kickoff and punting skills; and showcase their talents for potential visibility into college football programs. The students came from Italy, Austria and Hungary and all play in European football leagues in their home areas.

For most campers, they never had instruction like this before as guidance and fundamental instruction for kickers is very limited outside of the US. Coach Christoph received a scholarship in college and played at Division 1 Mississippi Valley State, so he’s well aware of the college recruiting process for a European footballer. Coach Brent helped place over 15 specialists into colleges last year on partial or full football scholarships so he was able to evaluate the talent in Europe and help provide guidance for the campers.

4 Specialists set themselves apart at camp this weekend:
Christopher Kappel
Vienna Vikings

Won Field Goal Competition with 55 yard FG
Booming kickoff leg, 65+ yard average
Hits a great field goal – excellent trajectory, lift and carry.
Also shows potential on punts
Needs to improve overall consistency
Potential D1 field goal kicker

Stefano di Tunisi
Milan Seamen, Italy

Won Kickoff And Punt Competition
Huge kickoffs, 66+ yard kickoff average
Calm under pressure
Very coachable
Great attitude
38.5 yard net punt average
D1 kickoff ability
Also shows potential on punts

Stefan Knaller
Danube Dragons, Austria

64+ yard kickoff average
3.8+ second KO hang time range
Runner up in field goal competition
Made field goals back to 55 yards
Excellent under pressure: calm, cool, collected
D1 level field goal kicker and kickoff specialist

Andraz Storcz
Budapest Wolves, Hungary

37 yard net punt average
68+ yard kickoffs
Hit several punts at 60 or more yards
Ability to hit NFL caliber punts
Needs to work on overall consistency
Very ‘raw’ in form, needs fundamental/technique improvement
Potential to blossom into a D1 level punter or pro punter

Another notable from camp is Matteo Lanteri from the Castelfranco Bulls in Italy who decided to walk on to Division 3 college football school, Becker College in Massachusetts.

View Camp Results View Camp Photos

Based on the success of the first ever American Football kicking camp in Italy, Coach Christoph Kipperer and Coach Brent Grablachoff are already planning their second camp in Europe. The pair hope to hold a second American Football kicking camp in Bolzano Italy again in 2014. EuroKickers already holds kicking clinics in Austria and surrounding countries, but this will be a unique arrangement for the two to continue to join forces and provide opportunity for more specialists across Europe. Follow the Kicking World and EuroKickers websites for details to come on future kicking camps in Europe.