I am a trainer and as such the thought is that I will improve your footwork, agility and movement skills. While this is true, it doesn’t stop there. The fastest feet are of no use if they do not know where to go or if they take them to a place they don’t need to be.
I have two decades of coaching and training football players. As you can imagine, I have seen 100’s of athletes come and go. Some have been below average in terms of athleticism and have made it to the highest levels while others have had Hall of Fame talent and couldn’t even make it on the high school football field. The major reason for both situations is the mental side of the game.
Many young athletes forget about the mental aspect of sports. One of the major reasons that this occurs is because it doesn’t provide the ability to measure. It’s hard to gauge your mental improvement like it is to see the improved numbers on a stop watch or more pounds being put on the bar. Another reason why it is not embraced is because it is boring. Life is funny like that. Often times the boring things are the ones that are going to take you the farthest, like reading a book for example.
When I speak of the mental side of football, I am not just talking about remembering the plays. I am also talking about your approach to your training and studying. I also mean your relationships with teammates and coaches. These things matter and they can ultimately elevate you or end you.
The first part of the mental side to reaching your potential is knowing the game. It is difficult to win any game without knowing the rules. You may show a certain amount of skill in a game but at some point, if you do not know the rules, you will be defeated by them. Similarly, if you do not understand how your defense works and how offenses attack you, it won’t be long before you are taken advantage of. Make it a point to have a FULL understanding of every defense that is presented to you. This means not just knowing your job but the job of those around you. Communication on the field is important especially on defense. You can only communicate if you not only know your job but the job of the other men in your unit.
The second part of the mental side of reaching your full potential is in your behavior. Some feel that football is the place they can go to escape the pressures of having to conform to society’s rules. Some think it’s just the place that they can go to just run around and hit people. Well, that’s not entirely true. There are rules to when and where you can make those hits. On the way to being able to take your frustrations out, you have to be able to channel where those frustrations are deposited. Failing to establish a respectful relationship with your teammates and coaches results in you no longer having a place to go to suit up and hit people.
Make it a point of channeling your frustrations and learn some communication skills. I’m sorry, society’s rules will still follow you onto the football field. However, if you can embrace these rules, not only can you reach your potential as a football player but you can get better at life as well. Respect your coaches. You do this by following their rules, paying attention when they are instructing you and giving them a 100% effort when they ask you to. Your coach is a human being with emotions and another person he has to answer to. Also, develop a meaningful relationship with your teammates. Football is not tennis. It is a team sport and the ultimate one at that. You do not have to be best friends with all of your teammates but becoming the best version of you depends on the level of respect you are able to obtain from the other men that suit up in your colors.
Keep this mental part of football in mind as you strive towards your goals on the gridiron. The more you embrace it, the less obstacles you will have to climb to reach your destination. Fail to uphold the mental aspect and you will exhaust yourself climbing the walls that get put in your way.
Chad Wilson is the owner of All Eyes DB Camp and author of "101 DB Tips". He played college football at the University of Miami and briefly in the NFL for the Seattle Seahawks. Over his 15 year high school football coaching career, he tutored over a dozen Division I defensive backs and as a trainer has worked with NFL All Pros, first round draft picks, college football All Americans and Top 10 ranked high school football prospects.
