“Pressure is something you feel when you don’t know what the hell you’re doing.” – Peyton Manning [1]

You have put in the hours on the training field and you have listened to all of the coach’s instructions; yet just before you take to the competitive field your mind starts to focus on things that are beyond your control.

By focusing on such things as the opponent (i.e. their size, speed, strength) or on the outcome of the game you are involuntarily treading on dangerous football mental ground which can lead to you experiencing a dip in your football confidence.

By allowing your mind to take over your thought process and letting it focus on random things, you are wreaking self-inflicted havoc on your football mind.

Football mental toughness, as well as the overall state of mind, is determined by your ability to direct your own thoughts to matters that will benefit, and that are not detrimental to, your physical performance. Although your body may have been adequately prepared to face the challenges that are to be faced on the field, the mind has its own agenda which is, unfortunately, not always in line with your own intentions.

The mind processes the act of entering the field as being a potential threat, so it scans your immediate and tangible environment to expose and make you aware of things to look out for. In a way, that makes perfect sense. However, the problem is that there are no real, as in deadly, threats on a football field.

By engaging in these thoughts you will open up your mind to feelings of anxiety which will cause your muscles to tense up. This usually has the unwanted effect of causing you to perform in a cautious or even controlled manner.

When you cannot trust your own skills or just let go and let things happen you are effectively holding yourself back for no real reason other than to satisfy your mind.

One of the ways that professional athletes combat this unproductive state of mind is by using a predetermined pregame routine to transition into a winning mindset. The pregame warm up is the ideal time to focus on pumping yourself up for the challenges that are about to be placed before you.

By focusing on your own strengths, your technique, listening to music that will get your adrenaline going, thinking about the plays that you are expected to execute, etc. you will be focusing on things that you can control and that can directly and positively impact the game in your favour.

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