how can i improve my cornerback skills?

Question
im a senior playing tackle football and i am cornorback, ive been trying hard to improve but when i line up with a wide receiver and the some one is running the ball to my side i begin to panic and i cant really tackle him because i get blocked, do you have any tips?

Answer
Hello Ryan

This is a situation where planning and mental practice will help you a lot.  

Sit down with pencil and paper and write/diagram how you would like to act In that specific situation.  Include different things that could happen (like getting blocked) and write/diagram how you would deal with that.  

When you feel comfortable with that, than it's time for visualization practice.  Here's a method that can help you.

Get in a safe, comfortable position where it's safe to close your eyes.  Take in a deep breath and as you let it out close your eyes (this is a signal to yourself that it's time to do visualization).  Then, take three breaths, relaxing a little more as you exhale each breath.

Now, picture or imagine (either is fine) that situation that you wrote/diagrammed and picture or imagine yourself responding successfully just as you planned in those different situations. Do this ten times.  Then, take a deep breath, open your eyes, get up and stretch.

Repeat this three times, then you are done.  Do this series twice a day and what you discover is that you are programming yourself to respond the same way on the field as you do in your imagination.  I've used this tool to help many football players at all levels improve their performance - IT WORKS!

Good luck and let me know how it goes.

David

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