Episode 43 - Bill Shafer, President of Launchpad Products

Episode 43 of the podcast welcomes Bill Shafer, co-inventor of the Launchpad Kickoff Tee. After serving in the Navy, Shafer walked on to the University of Akron's football team and earned the kicking job. After playing one season for the Zips his wife shared the news they'd be expecting a baby boy. Consequently, Shafer hung up the cleats at Akron and enrolled in paramedic school.

Shafer would play a few years of semi-professional football while working in Akron before being drafted by the Erie Freeze in 2006. During this time he invented the Launch Pad Kickoff Tee with his partner David Abdul. After noticing a trend in NFL kickers leaning the ball forward for field goals (but not kickoffs), Shafer became curious if a forward lean could improve the ball’s contact point and trajectory for kickoffs.

At 60, Shafer still kicks and considers kicking a football to be pure joy. On his free time he enjoys coaching and helping kickers of all levels improve and chase their dreams.

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