“I visualize things in my mind before I have to do them. It’s like having a mental workshop.” – Jack Youngblood

Most, if not all, athletes have been there. Some have learned to deal with it while others relinquish the fight and give in to it.

We are talking about the moments, however fleeting in their nature, when an athlete loses control of their football mind and develops low levels of football confidence. What usually ends up happening is the weakening of their football mental toughness and a drop in the overall state during games and or in practice sessions.

The athlete that possesses the superior mental game tends to be the athlete that will prevail when all other things are equal.

Having the ability to calm and compose one’s own football mental state during these moments is not only beneficial to athletes but it is also something that can be learned by them.

When an athlete gains an understanding and awareness the psychology in football they will be taking the first steps in striving towards their own peak performance levels.

One method that can be taught to an athlete by a mental game coach is called “mental rehearsal”.

Mental rehearsal is the mental act an athlete uses to rehears their performance in order to calm the mind and nerves and to gain confidence in their game. Mental rehearsal is also known as “imagery” or “visualisation”; as it uses all of the senses to create or recreate an event or image in the mind.

By imagining something the athlete is strengthening the neural pathways required for that skill and the more likely they will be able to reproduce it again in the future. The athlete will also become more familiar with the actions required to perform a skill.

Practicing mental rehearsal will also aid an athlete in improving their performance, their mind body synchronicity, boosting their confidence, improving their concentration as well as their control over emotional responses.

An athlete can mentally rehearse by eliminating all distractions, controlling their breathing, relaxing their body and then imagining their skill or performance with all their senses. When doing so the imagery is to be realistic, precise, vivid and in real time.

Some athletes find it easier to begin mentally rehearsing in their home or in a quiet and private space before learning to do so during the warm up or their own personalized pre competition routine.

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