Gone are the days when sports camps were summertime diversions from lazy teens on the couch.
Today, specialized camps play a major role in youth sport platforms and can significantly impact a young athlete’s ability to attract attention from college coaches and from the schools that hand out scholarships. Someone very local, and very near and dear to Arizona, has stepped in to help.
You might recognize him as a neighbor, walking the sidewalks and pathways through Las Sendas with his lovely wife, Kelli. Or, maybe, you will recall his name through his years of playing football, as the punter, for the Arizona State University Sun Devils from 1990-92, where he continues to hold the ASU record for the most punting yards in a single game. Regardless, Steve’s true passion to develop talent and help other young athletes achieve their athletic goals continues.
What began, a few years ago, with a single phone call, asking him to help a teen sharpen his kicking skills, grew into helping several kids, and rapidly into his newest sidekick business, Rausch Kicking.
What began, a few years ago, with a single phone call, asking him to help a teen sharpen his kicking skills, grew into helping several kids, and rapidly into his newest sidekick business, Rausch Kicking.
What began, a few years ago, with a single phone call, asking him to help a teen sharpen his kicking skills, grew into helping several kids, and rapidly into his newest sidekick business, Rausch Kicking.
STEVE IS AN ARIZONA NATIVE After playing football and graduating from Dobson High School, right here in Mesa, Steve went on to ASU to punt for the Sun Devils, where he developed great relationships with teammates and coaches, which are of utmost importance to him today. He married his life partner, Kelli, during his college years and went on to receive his degree. The couple then lived in several separate locations throughout the Valley, eventually settling in the Las Sendas community.
ATHLETICISM RUNS IN THE FAMILY Steve and Kelli’s daughter, Kenadee, recently graduated from Arizona State University, where she played Division 1 softball as a pitcher. Steve describes himself as a bucket dad during all of Kenadee’s sports-playing years.
“Bucket dad means I sat on an upside-down bucket with Kenadee and we worked together to enhance her playing level and mindset. We always let her coaches do the coaching, and sat together on-the-bucket with tips and encouragement to strengthen her abilities.
“Helping her with her pitching skills paralleled with kicking and punting instruction, so it was an easy transition to help others through my new programs,” Steve said. And because Steve and his family hold everything Arizona near and dear to them, Steve’s connection to Arizona kids has been monumental in the success of Rausch Kicking.
Steve’s passion for his family, community, Arizona, and the sport he adores is evident in his enthusiasm when he talks about helping others attain their goals. That sort of success is not easy to achieve.
When I asked Steve how he ties everything together, personally and professionally, to keep things moving forward successfully, he said, “Kicking is like marriage because both take trust, discipline, commitment, and unselfish support. You must work hard to develop and strengthen both.”
Visit rauschkicking.com to learn more about instructional training and development, camps, and private sessions for your young athlete.