why cant i get playing time

Question
Dear David,
Im 6'3 215 and i run a 4.8 40 and bench 265 with a 450 pound squat,im also a senior,I play noseguard at a 5a school, our team has been good in the past years but this year we are up and down as far as our play goes due to a lack of talent,this is my first year at this school by the way.i play on the starting kickoff team as a wedge breaker and kick return as a lead blocker and have been doing really well but We are already half away through our season and i havent gotten to play a single down on defense, i do good in practice and in hitting drills against the starting d line, almost every week our d line coach keeps on telling me good job and gives me looks but during games its like he completely forgets about me, this is even more frustrating due to the fact that our starting nose guard is out with a mcl tear and he is playing our d ends at the nose position, also im not doing bad things off the field and im making good grades in school.  I feel like all the work i did in the offseason was for nothing and each week my confidence in myself as a player gets lower as i stand on the sideline,  what can i do other than what im already doing to get some playing and the opportunity to make a difference.

Answer
Hello Dave

This is a situation where I believe the best thing to do is to talk to your coach.  Ask your coach what you need to do to play.  When you do go talk to him, do it with the feeling that you will do anything you need to do to play.  This might really help.

You also need to give yourself a reality check.  Most things are not personal.  This is your first year at this school, the coach may not feel he knows you enough to feel you'll do your best.  People sometimes feel more comfortable sticking with what they know, even if it's not working, rather than try something new.  You may have to work even harder to persuade your coach that you can make him look good.  Understand that all coaches are under pressure, their job is to win games.  Their job is also to get along with school faculty, alumni and parents.

But, if your coach understands that you have the skills, ability, motivation, drive and focus to play your heart out to make him look good, well, that may make a huge difference.  Coaches like motivated players!  Being the first person to practice, working harder than everyone else, learning more about football than the others, these are the kinds of things that make impressions.   These are decisions you have to make based on how bad you want it and how much work you are willing to put into it.

Good luck and let me know how it goes.

David

David Kenward - The Mental Coach
Sacramento, California
http://www.thementalcoach.com
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