Fine Tuning the Head

Some notes and ideas to consider along with ‘Getting the Head Working’.

Common Expectations for the Mentally Tough Player

• Do their job regardless of the pressure
• Don’t give in when the going gets tough.
• Take responsibility for their own performance. Don’t blame others.
• Look opponents in the eye and know you will not take a backward step
• Stay focused on the play that is happening now.
• Forget about mistakes and move on to the next play.
• Don’t display disappointment or tiredness.
• Enjoy themselves and smile a lot.
• Don’t be upset by things they have no control over. Keep smiling.

The coach’s responsibility is to help the players meet some of these requirements.
If the coach knows the players well then the coach and player can focus on a specific need that meets the players requirements.
E.g.: The player is always very nervous and makes mistakes in the first quarter of each game.
The coach could focus on the ‘Enjoyment and smiling’ aspect.
This could involve Body Posture, Performance Breathing and Imagery particularly on arrival at the ground.
The player might be outside warming up when the final team talk takes place. Their role would have been managed during the week.
They need to have just a couple of specifics to think about.
The player could breathe and focus on the likely first action in the game – whilst smiling.
The coach and the player could develop an anchor where the player ‘throws away’ any mistakes. Maybe a ball is dropped – the player clenches their first and opens it quickly in a throwing action.
The more one on one discussions with this player will see the improvements required.

Each player should develop a Mental Exercise Routine

• Try to follow a similar routine each week. Work out what is best.
• Sunday: swim/bike ride/jog – whatever. Relax and get last week out of the system.
• Monday: 1- think back over the last game and isolate the good and not so good aspects. Why did they play well/poorly? Build up a bank of ideas that are going to help them in future games. 2- Set the goals for the week based on the seasonal goal and where they are in the season.
• Tuesday:  Training. Weekly & Daily Goals: Plan what they want to improve. Arrive early and warm up. Read the training on the board and start to picture themselves carrying out some activities. Start to feel energized and excited.
• Wednesday: set their individual performance goals for Saturday based on the game plan. Write them down. Be precise. Smile when they are writing.
  Begin their mental preparation based on their goals. Imagery, affirmations, anchor.
• Thursday: Training. Be mentally strong and determined to carry out the whole training at 100%
  Continue the mental preparations.
• Friday: relax.  Friday night-visualising themselves performing a performance goal and scoring a try.
• Saturday: Prepare to leave early. Have all the gear ready to pack. Keep smiling and looking forward to the game. Arrive 10+ minutes early.
  Carry out the individual pre-game mental preparation whilst walking around the ground. Take everything in. Prepare for the kick off.

Developing a ‘Pre-Game Mental Plan’.

• What players do on game day can be important.
• On waking it is a good idea to work on the breathing, imagery, affirmations and anchoring as have been decided during the week. This may take 10 minutes.
• On arrival at the ground the player needs to have at least 15 minutes to themselves to walk around the ground, building up their imagery and affirmations. Make sure the posture and smiling are positive.
• Just prior to running out on to the field the player should be breathing, smiling and imaging the first likely aspect of the game from the kick off.
• Of course, it is important to relax and chat to people during this period with lots of positive vibes given off and plenty of smiling.
• By preparing mentally they make sure they don’t worry about the things they cannot change.

Being mentally strong during the game.

There are many issues associated with dealing with the pressures in the game

• The coach must have a clear game plan
• The player must know his roles within the plan
• The player must feel an important part of the team
• The team should have worked sufficiently accurately and intensely during the trainings

When these aspects are regularly in place it will make it a lot simpler for the players to focus on the mental aspects.

• Using the anchor is the key. Get to a lineout – activate the anchor – next phase starts with a clear mind.
• At any lengthy stoppage the player can visualise the next play.