Five Steps to Maximize Player Potential

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Five Steps to Maximize Player Potential

Football players of the 21st century may look like they did way back in the 1900s – you know, three years ago – but let’s face it, times have changed. In order to fully maximize both the coaches’ and players’ potential, sports psychology can play an important role in certain facets of the training process. After all, football programs have become more complex and the demands on the players have become even greater.

The following five easy steps are proven methods that American Football Monthly has doggedly compiled that will help you maximize your player’s hidden potential:

1) Know your player’s names: Face it, “Hey, you” just doesn’t get the job done when addressing someone, much less an impressionable youth that is constantly looking for affirmation and individuality. Get to know your players personally and understand that each athlete is different with their own personality and their own response triggers. Develop relationships with each player. The most successful teams view each other as family.

2) Think positive: Negative reinforcement did not work when you were an athlete and it still doesn’t. The only things gained from a good tongue-lashing are strained vocal chords and bruised feelings. Positivity not only inspires winning, it will also create more confident players with a deeper sense of respect for themselves and for the coaching staff. A light pat on the back is always better than a swift kick in the pants. And remember, if you act like a winner, talk like a winner and think like a winner – guess what?

3) Build character, not champions: Eddie Robinson once said “I am in the business of building better Americans, not better football players,” and all Coach Robinson ever did was win 408 games, the most in college football history. Coincidence? No! Robinson new what very few coaches do, character builds winners and winners win championships. Football philosophy has often been compared to real life, but more often than not, real life philosophy could be easily compared to football.

4) Lose the losing streak: Hey, it happens. Sometimes you just find yourself on the downside of an 0-9 record. So before it becomes 0-19 and you have to update your resume, learn to break the cycle. It is a scientific fact - somewhere - that losing streaks maintain themselves. It’s the whole “Here-we-go-again” mindset that ultimately dooms floundering teams. The key is not focusing on winning or losing, but rather on fundamentals and procedures. Concentrating on the task at hand and not the scoreboard will provide for a much more productive player and outcome.

5) Sweaty palms, swooshy stomachs: Want to get ready for the big game? Get nervous. That’s right, according to sports psychologists there are three kinds of nervousness and each one of them can make the difference: A) Good nervousness: Adrenaline is the ultimate energy source and guess what – your own body produces it. B) Bad nervousness: You’re scared – enough said. C) Not nervous enough: Can you say upset?