By Dave Brunner
(April 13, 2022)
Understanding and leveraging the mental side of your player’s game is critical to being able to help them execute the physical skills mastered during practice. When it comes to managing their mental energy, they often find themselves in a reactive mode during competition. The results of the previous play or the pending concern over future plays and the result of the game can often distract their focus and concentration; ultimately compromising their ability to execute the skills necessary in the moment for optimal performance.
We instruct our players to have a continual awareness of their ETA during competition.
- E—Energy level: is your energy level too high, too low, or where it needs to be given the demands of the task ahead?
- T—Thoughts: what thoughts are you experiencing; and how do they relate to the understanding of what is transpiring at the moment for the execution of the upcoming play?
- A—Attention: where should your attention be directed to provide the greatest chance for competitive advantage?
Football is a non-continuous flow game. Our players have the luxury of checking in with themselves internally for 15-30 seconds before the assignment is given for the next play. Their check on their energy should happen immediately. The joy, frustration, anger, and satisfaction from the previous play must be mitigated to a ‘steady calm’ through physiological or psychological techniques. Once the balance is restored to physiology, the player can concentrate on their thoughts. What did I learn from the previous play that can help with the next play? At this time the player should divert their attention to the external environment and receive their assignment for the next play. Once they have this assignment, they should repeat the process. A few conscious breaths to begin to ‘amp up’ for the play ahead begins the routine. Conscious thoughts about the execution of the play which might include some brief hasty imagery/visualization should occur as the player assumes their alignment. Once properly aligned, the player should direct their attention to the operating environment; seeking to identify what tactical advantage they might gain, with a quick return to their internal attention and thoughts about executing the play.
The process should occur during periods of rest as well. We encourage our players to concentrate primarily on the restoration of energy during their time off the field. Proper hydration, attention to discomfort or injury, and any other identified physiological/psychological demands must be addressed before any attention may be given to coaching instruction. Consequently, as the player’s concern with energy restoration is being met; they are encouraged to develop thoughts regarding post-performance imagery where they replay the previous series; revisiting successful repetitions and revising unsuccessful ones to image success. Ultimately, they direct their attention to the external environment and whatever coaching instruction is to be imparted. This all happens in real-time; very quickly, and must be integrated in some form or fashion into your practice schedule. A purposeful plan for helping your players manage their ETA gives them the best chance to execute at the upper range of their potential with consistency.
