Mental Toughness Training for Football

7/28/2019 Mental Toughness Training for Football

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Mental toughness training for Football

Dealing with Adversity

Adversity, it happens in life and in sports. Wherever, whenever, you need to do your best to deal with it. One

method is to be prepared for it, anticipate it. You should never be surprised by adversity. Because as we all know,

stuff happens! So deal with it. Easily said. But how do we deal with it? Being part of a true team helps. A real

team will realize that they and the individuals on the team cannot be perfect. However we will all work together to

support each other when we are down and cheer each other on when we are up.

Definition of ADVERSITY

: A state, condition, or instance of serious or continued difficulty or adverse fortune

Dealing with your coaches

It is the coaches job to teach you the skills, techniques, and strategy of the game. We are also responsible to

motivate you, in the game, but also in life. In the game most coaches will be upset at you when you make a mistake.

This mistake is usually a mental error where you forget your assignment or did not concentrate hard enough. It

could also be due to lack of effort. Either way coaches will be upset at you, as you should be with yourself, as your

teammates may be, and they will let you know it. This should motivate you to never repeat this mistake. However,

you may, and the coach will be there to chew you out as the need may be.

Coaches will not, and should not, yell at you if you are trying your best and simply cant make the play. We all

cant be perfect. If you are a proven player who is trying your best you are probably hardest on yourself. So that is

when the coach will try to lift you up as we know you are capable of getting the job done. And when you make

achievements, as you will, our joy comes from being the first to give you a hug or a high five, and the loudest to

cheer for you. Because we know how hard you have worked and how much you have put into doing what you do.

If a coach was to always take it easy on you or to only tell you how good you are doing they would not be doing

their job and thus they would be failing you. We all need tough love in order to become our best. Once you

realize this you will realize the Coach is only mad at you because he knows you can do better. Coaches will never

make it personal. That is why we are upset AT you and not WITH you. It is only when we stop yelling at you that

we have given up on you.

Dealing with other players

No one is perfect, in life, or in the playing field. And the last thing we need is teammates second-guessing each

other. We cant complain about each other, as we are all we have. If someone else could have done it better then

they should be out there. Or maybe they are just know it alls who cant do anything at all. Stick with the golden

rule, if you dont have anything nice to say, dont say it at all. Criticism should come from the coaches only. That

is their job. That is why there is such a difficult love-hate relationship between players and coaches. By this I meannot true hate, but the players do hate it when the coaches get on them for screwing up and for pushing them so hard.

But they should know this is for their best. However, when their teammates get on them, it can backfire. It can be

out in the open or held in. This results in cliques. And when we have small groups forming who resent each other

we lose the team bond. Stay together. Only together can we reach our goals. For the team is, together everyone

achieves more.


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Enjoying the game

Do you love football?i I will ask you this over and over again. You should pay to play this game because you

enjoy it. At least like it. There are so many great aspects to playing football. The personal challenge, the team

camaraderie, the ups and downs of the game, the physical fitness, and so on. Football has been likened to a game of

chess where we are all different pieces with different abilities. It involves the most players on a team, the most

strategy, and the most preparation. It also has the least amount of game play. It has the shortest games and thefewest games in a season. Football is a game of mistakes where the victor is usually the team that executes the best.

To do this you have to be totally committed and focused. You cannot do this if you are unhappy being here and

simply going through the motions. The best way to play, and the best way to get something out of this game and

experience, is to always be ready to answer what you hold dear inside you, yes, I love football.

Handling your nerves

Too many players get handicapped because they cant deal with their pre-game nerves. This results in the classic

choke. You need to understand that being nervous is natural. What is upcoming is a great challenge. And

biologically when we are challenged we are programmed to fight or flee. This means you can fight and do your

best or you can flee by quitting and refusing to put yourself at risk. When you are nervous you need to realize this is

a good thing. You are nervous because you want to do your best!!! Thats natural! We all feel / have felt that way.

Tap into it and take this nervous energy and use it. Nerves provide energy that allows players to play up to theirpotential. This nervous energy rising up in you lets you know that you are about to light the fuse that explodes you

into game mode where you leave everything you have on the field.

i This idea is taken directly from Jon Grudens book Do You Love Football as he has a great view on the passion for the game and stories thatreaffirm this. I would suggest this for further reading.

How to have productive practices

Practices may be seen as necessary evils at the least. If you do not enjoy practices compared to the excitement and

challenge of the game, we understand. But we need to practice in order to play to our utmost potential. There are

many sayings and coaches who know that you play like you practice, and, practicelike champions. You cannot

play like a champion if your practice is mediocre. You will go into games flat and unprepared for the challenges of

game speed and collisions. We need to work on execution. Our assignments, responsibilities, strategy, timing, and

completion of each play. We need to work on the transitions of the game. If one player is not aware punt team is on

we could get the kick blocked. Thats why we practice every situation so you will not be caught with your pants

down on game day. To ensure good practices make sure you can do the following;

1) Be on time2) Have all your gear on and in proper order3) Come with enthusiasm (its contagious, be the disease)4) Run to each drill. Never walk on the football field.5) Know your role. Are you an excellent team leader or warrior?6) Do what the coaches tell you. If you have questions that require long explanations wait till an

appropriate time. However, dont look stupid because you are too afraid to ask. Now is the time

to make sure. Often the only dumb questions are the ones you dont ask.

7) Help out. Bring out and setup the gear. Return it properly8) Respect our help. Be kind and courteous to managers etc. Let them know they are appreciated with a

simple thank you.


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Handling the competition

Games can be stressful. If you cant deal with the competition to your best ability it can bring your performance

down. Understand the nature of competition. We have opponents in order to challenge us and to help us rise to the

highest achievements we hope our potential can reach. If we only had mediocre potential we would never feel the

exhilaration of meeting these challenges. We want to be the best, the best we can be, and this can only be achievedby playing other teams who commit to being their best. So dont be intimidated or feel dragged down because they

are so good. The better they are the better it makes us, win or lose. Remember, Respect everyone, and fear no

one.

Be a warrior

Football is a very tough and demanding sport; physically, emotionally, and mentally. It can wear you down in all

areas. Yes, sometimes you will feel like you want to quit. These doubts are natural. As what you are doing will

require more sacrifices than you have ever had to make. You will feel pain and agony you never thought you could

handle. But you must. And when you do this you have achieved warrior status.

Warr iors never;

1) Give up or quit2) Abandon the team when they know they need them3) Let pain stop them from playing.

(Must educate difference between pain and injury)

4) Fear the risk of failure.5) Let down their teammates or coaches.

Warr iors always;

1) Work as hard as they can to be the best they can and give everything they have2) Put the team needs before their own3) Know that they can play when hurt. They know the difference between being hurt and being injured.4) Relish the opportunity for achievement the game offers5) Respect and are responsible to their teammates and coaches.

Respect for the game

This should go without saying. But too often it needs to be said. To enjoy the game and get the most out of it, while

also being a good person and player, you MUST always hold the utmost respect for every person involved in the

game, such as in this list;

a) Your opponentsb) The refereesc) Team supportd) History of the gamee) The fans (from both sides)f) Your teammatesg) Your coachesh) Your parents who allow you to play and make sacrifices for you


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The heart of the defense is pursuit. Pursuit is dedication. Pursuit is

persistence. Pursuit is getting to the ball carrier, by taking the shortest route

possible: and when you get there you have to have the desire to deliver a hit.

Its every mans responsibility to pursue until the whistle blows. When the

pursuit has been good you can count the number of your players around the

ball carrier.

Goals

1. Keep opponent from scoring

2. Eliminate personnel breakdowns (missed assignments, missed calls,

missed tackles, and lack of effort)

3. Force turnovers by

A. Gang tackling

B. Disrupting offensive patterns

C. Interceptions

4. Force long yardage situations

5. Be very aggressive on each and every play (100% all the time)

6. Score more points than the offense

7. WIN, WIN, WIN


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FUNDAMENTALS OF EXCELLENT DEFENSIVE PLAY

STANCE

RECOGNIZE

ATTACK

NEUTRALIZE

PURSUIT

TACKLE

SUDDEN CHANGE

The Sudden Change Situation is the real test of a great defense.

What You Must Do!

1. Always huddle up with the coach before you go back into the game.2. Gain control of your thoughts and get yourself ready to play defense again.

3. Realize that you must get yourself and your team up mentally. Rise to the occasion.4. Go all out to make the Big Play yourself.

5. Understand how much affect the Sudden Change can have on the outcome of the game. Itsnot just another series.

6. This is the real test of your defense. Realize the situation and accept the Challenge.

7. When you stop them, you will have an even greater psychological advantage.

The Sudden Change situation will occur in most games. In the close games or big games the

sudden change situations usually decides the outcome.

A defense that plays hard and doesnt allow big plays can play well if it can always force the

opponents offense to drive a long way to score- Because this doesnt always happen, the

difference between winning and losing, especially in big games can be how a defense responds


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to the Sudden Change situation. To be a successful defense, we must hold our opponents to a FG

or less in the Sudden Change Situation.

Make the Sudden Change ours!!!

When a sudden change situation arises youll know whats at stake and the importance of

accepting the challenge.

REMEMBER

HHustleA - Attitude

R- Respect

D - Discipline

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Mental Toughness Training for Football