Getting Better at Football!

Question
Hi Sir My name is Myren. I've been playing Pop Warner Football since I was 8. I'm 16 now and I play High School Football. I didn't play 9th grade year but I played 10th grade year. I moved From LA to Bakersfield In the middle of the season of JV. I think I came like after the 2nd game and the 1st day I made an impact. I played Running Back and Outside Linebacker. I didn't start though Cause I came so late but I started Kickoff. I also got moved up to Varsity for the Playoffs! But when I play in game or Practice I get so nervous. I have a hard time learning the plays and doing the drills. I hate the feet work for the LB. I get so scared that I'm going to mess up. My head coach for the JV team told me "I think too much". Like I get nervous just thinking about feet drills cause I suck so bad. Sometimes I just want to quit because I hate being the only that messes up or who people have to have or cathes on slow. What can I do to get better. Should I stay at LB or switch to something else cause me and the LB coach don't really get along he's a ass sometimes but He's also the track coach so should I try to run track to build a good relationship with him or just switch positions? How can I get better at feet work? How can I stop being so nervous and just go with the flow?

Answer
Hello Myren

Your JV coach may very well be right - a lot of athletes think too much (I work with lots of them).  I can't tell you what positions to play, but what I can suggest is find something POSITIVE to focus on when you practice.  What happens is we worry so much about what we could do wrong, it's all that sticks in our mind, and becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.  I'd like you to come up with a word or short phrase which describes how you'd like to be on the field - like POWER or LIGHT FEET or something.  Whatever it is, that's what you focus on.  Write it down where you can see it every day, repeat it to yourself, this is how you get something that can help you stuck in your mind.  This will help you go with the flow on the field.

Your LB coach has power, and it's up to you to get along with HIM if you want to play LB.  Maybe that's not fair, but if you like it, it's what you have to do.  Coaches like to have a winning record, and if you running track will help your coach get that, maybe that might help you.  Do what you feel is best.

Good luck and let me know how it goes.

David

David Kenward, The Mental Coach
Sacramento, California
http://www.thementalcoach.com/mental-training.html
Win the Mental Game: Perform better under pressure in any sport
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