“What’s the worst thing that can happen to a quarterback? He loses his confidence” —Terry Bradshaw

To be able to compete at the very top level in any sport, it is no longer good enough to rely on just pure natural ability. Fitness levels are becoming crucial to success in the football mental game and football players have to adapt to new training and dietary regimes to be able to cope with the demands being place upon them.

According to sports psychologist for football, when you feel better physically, you feel better mentally.

You are better able to take on challenges. You feel more interested in developing new skills and strategy. You have the energy to overcome obstacles.

Physical strength can often give you mental strength.

When you see what your body is capable of achieving, your self-confidence soars. Exercise shows you what is possible when you put effort into meeting your goals. Every day that you exercise, your body grows stronger, giving you nearly immediate results for your hard work. When you are physically fit, and achieve harder exercises without as much effort, you start get a feeling like you can do anything!

Recent research indicates that regular physical exercise prevents cognitive decline. This means improved abilities to learn and to think more clearly and with improved focus and concentration. There are indications that exercise also reduces obsessive rumination (commonly experienced with anxiety and worry). Stress management skills are enhanced with an improved football mind.

Exercise helps you to feel mentally and physically prepared for the challenges before you, so that you feel better prepared to achieve your goals. Knowing that you can take on the tasks that you set for yourself helps you to feel confident in any situation. Feeling good about the way you look and the physical achievements you have made only further enhances this self-confidence.

You feel a sense of accomplishment by meeting small, successive goals. There is always opportunity to set your sights higher and to meet new goals. Each time you succeed, you get a sense of accomplishment and feel less stress.

When you feel less stress, you feel better able to manage the challenges that you face every day. You feel calm and able to concentrate on the tasks that you need to accomplish. All of this helps you to improve your football confidence — knowing that you are not overwhelmed by stress and anxiety and are fully in charge of your own feelings and actions, guiding your own success.

You didn’t get out of shape overnight, and you’re not going to instantly transform your body either. Expecting too much, too soon only leads to frustration. Try not to be discouraged by what you can’t do or how far you have to go to reach your fitness goals.

Instead of obsessing over results, focus on consistency. While the improvements in mood and energy levels may happen quickly, the physical payoff will come in time.

Football mental toughness and physical fitness isn’t something anyone is born with. It requires commitment, intention, and discipline, all attributes that you must also develop to achieve your desired success.

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