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GUEST EXPERT ARTICLE
Let's face it, as a kicker you're expected to talk to yourself a lot! Sometimes nobody else even wants to talk to you! All joking aside, 99% of kicking is focus and mental attitude. What you say to yourself is an important part of developing the focus and attitude you need to perform effectively.
Your mind works just like a computer; that is you only get out what you put in. There's a saying among computer geeks that says, "Garbage in-garbage out." The same is true when you're trying to program yourself. The most powerful technique for programming peak performance is self-talk.
Self-talk should be a constant process you integrate in every aspect of training and game-day performance. Let's start with practice:
We all have days when things just aren't going well; OK, we all have days when we just suck! That's your best opportunity to practice self-talk. Let's say you just shanked 3 kicks wide-right; instead of focusing on the misses, program where you want the ball to go. Tell yourself you're going to put it through the pipes. Identify whatever you're doing that's causing the miss, but instead of letting your internal dialogue focus on the mistake, start talking yourself through the correction.
"I've got this. I'm relaxed and I'm focused. My leg swing is smooth. My head is down. I'm confident and I'm putting this one through the pipes."
Notice that entire dialogue is in the present tense. You've got to tell yourself what you're doing now; not what you're going to do later. Program the exact action you want now, and phrase it in the present.
Let's be honest, no amount of self-talk is going to give you some paranormal power to knock it through the uprights. You've got to combine your self-talk with dedicated practice. Self-talk will make your practice more effective and help you stay focused on improvement when you're having a lousy practice day, or don't feel like practicing.
"I know that every rep I take today gives me the ability to hit it when it counts. Every rep, no matter what, is making me stronger, more focused and making me a better kicker. I enjoy practice and I enjoy being a football player. I belong here today and I'm enjoying my kicking. My team can count on me and every minute I'm out here is part of our next win"
Almost sounds stupid, doesn't it? Ever have "one of those days" when you're putting everything into it, but you just can't seem to hit? Ever have "one of those days" when you're doing everything right, but everything feels wrong? Those are the best days to practice self-talk. Keep telling yourself that every rep is leading to the game winner.
"I know every drill is leading to a game winner. Every miss is leading to a game winner. I'm correcting my technique and learning what to do to get it through the pipes when it counts. I'm getting my misses out now; I'm hitting everything in the game."
I'll assume there are still some doubters out there. Medical science has proven that negative attitude and thought actually weakens the body. Positive attitude and thought allows the body to operate at optimum levels for peak performance. Don't believe me; I'm no scientist! Read the following:
What to Say When You Talk to Yourself by Shad Helmstetter, Ph.D
The Psychology of Winning by Dr. Dennis Waitley
Sports Psyching by Thomas Tutko, Ph.D. and Umberto Tosi
To apply these powerful concepts directly to your kicking, read the great instructional materials published by Doug Brien on www.Kicking.com. Doug has a model script for mental game preparation specific to kickers. He used this technique throughout a successful NFL career. I used Doug's techniques to improve my kicking game significantly earning a spot on our league's All-Star team two years in a row, first at age 45 and again at age 46! An old dog can learn new tricks, and this trick works!
I've always worked out hard. I've always paid attention to technique. What changed for me was programming myself for success through self-talk. I now use this technique in my business and personal life as well as on the football field.
Finally, let's get to game-day. Use self-talk to program yourself to put it through the pipes. Start in warm-ups by telling yourself how relaxed and confident you feel.
"I'm ready; this is what makes it all worthwhile. I'm relaxed, I'm strong and I'm ready to put it through the pipes. I love the pressure of kicking; I love having the team count on me under pressure and I'm ready to win this game when it counts."
I also talk myself through the positive steps I need for a successful kick. "I'm keeping my head down, I'm focused and all I see is the spot. My steps are relaxed and I'm exploding through the ball. I'm ripping the cover off one of these balls today!"
Doug Brien's script is an excellent model for your self-talk. My favorite part is when he even talks me through the wind as my friend! In Doug's script, the wind is carrying the ball through uprights no matter what the conditions. Playing in New England with, to say the least, variable weather conditions, Doug's script helped me turn what can be a challenge into an opportunity.
You're training hard, you're listening to your coach and you're constantly improving. Talk your self into peak performance throughout the week and through the game.
Put it through the pipes!
Quick Tip: I found a great way to warm-up that helps dial-in my focus and technique before games. I take a set each of no-steps, one-steps and full take-backs aiming at one upright. I can see right away whether I'm going left or right and by how far. I'm also not worrying about misses; I'm just dialing in as accurately as possible. The upright serves as a meter to help me get the most accuracy.
Ping a few in a row right off the pipe and you know you're dialed in! That makes the goal posts look awful big when you finish your warm-up going through the pipes with the whole kick unit! Learn more about Jim Bouchard >>> |
Talking Yourself into Peak Performance
Doug and Tommy's Frequently Asked Questions
