Staring WR

Question
I'm trying to gain position as my teams starting WR, I have more yards plus 6 more TD's this season then our starter. But the problem is that I do well in the game, I got this strange focus that only occurs during the game. I cannot fell tiredness or fatigue at all, no matter how long I run I just get faster as time progress's, and when I'm on the bench the only reason why I drink anything is cause I know its not healthy not too. When I'm in practice its a totally different situation, I get tired very easily and my catching gets as bad as my 9 yr. old little brother, its like when I try my hardest I seem to fail. Any idea on whats occurring?

Answer
Hello Tramane and thank you for asking this question.

I worked with someone recently who had something similar happen.  When they were performing they did great, but in practice (and tryouts) they didn't.  What was happening is that they were ramping up their excitement level because the results MATTERED, but otherwise it was just practice.  As you've learned, when you get ramped up, you get into what people call "the zone."  Your senses are heightened and you get the right amount of adrenaline to keep you pumped up (too much and you'd get burned out).  You may even notice that sometimes time seems to "stand still" or maybe things move in slow motion.  That's "the zone" and congratulations on getting into it.

So, what you can do is link a sound, a color or a feeling to what you experience in competition.  You could call it "ZONE TIME" or "CRANK IT UP" or something.  Maybe it's more like a color flowing through you, like a bright red.  Or maybe when you experience it you stomp your foot or squeeze your fist or something.  What's important is that you forge a link with how you feel in competition.  Then, when you are in practice or tryouts, call back that sound, color or feeling and bring back that pumped up feeling you get.  This is how our brains are wired, and I've helped many people learn to get into "the zone" on command.  You'll have it easier since you already get in "the zone," now it's just fine-tuning to do it in practice.

Good luck and let me know how it goes.

David

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