the difference

Question
I'm a freshmen football player and this is my first season I've ever played. i try my best at practice but theres nothing like the real game. when i play in a game at outside linebacker i hit harder and just do a better job.
but at practice i just don't do my best even when i try but i need to keep my coach sure i can get the job done. how do i simulate the idea of a game at practice?

Answer
Hello Logan

Have you ever had an emotional reaction watching a movie - feeling scared or angry or happy or revved up?  Have you ever watched "motivational" movies like Rudy or Rocky or ??.  Do they get you fired up?  The answer is probably yes, everyone does.  The point here is that we know the movies aren't real, but we allow ourselves to use our imaginations to feel as it they are, even causing electrochemical changes in our bodies (such as getting a burst of adrenalin).

So, create your own movie during practice.  Imagine that the person you admire the most, that you want to impress the most, is sitting in the stands watching you (from a place where you can't see them).  Imagine something great happening once you do great in your practice, which with your imagination is actually a performance.  Let that fire you up and you'll be amazed at how well it works.

I've helped competitors do this in every major sport so they'd bring more intensity to the practice field.  Do it, it works!

Good luck and let me know how it goes.

David

David Kenward - The Mental Coach
Sacramento, California
http://www.thementalcoach.com
Win the Mental Game: Overcome mental blocks and improve performance
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