pressure

Question
Hi I am Derek Bryant 6'3 194ibs of freshman. I start Varsity For Carrboro High.My problem is that I am Tom Brady in practice aginst our first team D,but in the games I am Dante Cullpper. I am to inconsistent I want to know how do I handle the pressure when I am in the pocket and make the correct desetion.

Answer
Hello Derek

The key is to train your mind and body to work together to be smooth and focused when you need it.

Here's a mental training tool to help you.  Get relaxed, close your eyes, and take five slow deep breaths.  Then, picture or imagine a time when you played well in practice, when you were smooth and focused.  Make it a multimedia experience, everything you saw, heard, felt and experienced.  Notice how smooth and focused you are.   Now change to another practice when you were smooth and focused and did great.  Notice again how you felt.  And do it again, the same thing, and this time say FOCUS to yourself as you feel it.  Do this five more times.

Now, picture or imagine a game when you are in the pocket and right when you need it, say FOCUS to yourself and bring in those feelings of smooth and focused.  Notice what you see, hear and feel.  Take another deep breath, and as you exhale, say to yourself again, FOCUS, while imagining being in the pocket, making the right decision, being smooth and focused.  Do that five times, then take a deep breath, open your eyes and stretch it out.  What you've done is started to train your mind to associate a word - FOCUS - with your experience of being smooth, focused and making the right decision.  The more you practice this, the better it works.  After you've practiced it ten times, you are ready to start practicing it on the field.  When you are on the field, or even before a game, take in a breath, exhale and say to yourself FOCUS and you'll discover you'll feel more smooth and focused.  I've helped many football players do better on the field using this skill, it works!

Good luck and let me know how it goes.

David

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