high ball catching

Question
hi, i am 15, 176cm and 10 stone.. i play on the wing for my club and school and i think i know nearly everything there is to know about my position but my only real problem is catching high kicks under pressure.  When im about with my m8's i have no problem at all with catching.. i will take anything that comes my way, its only in a game situation that i make the mistakes.  Could you please give me some help to let forget about the pressure and just catch the ball??  

thanks

Answer
Tough question mate. It isn't about "forgetting" about the pressure. Pressure is good, it makes diamonds. Try to simulate game day at training get a team mate to soft tackle you, committing to physical contact but not trying to knock your block off. That helps. The reality is that you just have you live with the fact that 2 out of every high balls you will get hit. Hit means a tackle : maybe hard, maybe not. It depends on the tackler. Hit does NOT mean you will die, or even get injured. Usually the worst is the wind gets knocked out of you. Embrace that fact. Fear is just an emotion, fear itself can't hurt you.

You can do a few things to protect yourself:

Point your shoulder and hip towards any oncoming player. A side ways stance helps give you a stronger footing and prepares you for a hit. Also if you miss the ball will bounce back and there is less chance of a knock on. Try to be facing one of your own players so they can clean up if you do drop it.

Bend the knees, and lower your center of gravity and focus really hard on the ball and nothing else.

You will catch it. You will get hit. You may drop it. The good player just ups the skill on the first, prepares physically and mentally for the middle and attempts to lower the number at the end (by doing the first 2). It takes work, bravery and confidence. Let me know if you have any more questions.