Football or no?

Question
Hey, i'm 16 years old, and currently a sophomore in high school. I'm 5'8' 160. I've always loved sports and football has always been one of my favorites. I have been in competitive skiing for almost 14 years now and I can usually handle the "metal preparation" of skiing fine but football is another story. I played football from ages 10 to 14 and (don't mean to sound arrogant) I was always one of the best players on the team. When I first got into high school I went to a football camp with other players and the week of tryouts I decided not to try out because of being so afraid of the other players. I felt (and still feel) small compared to most of the other players even though a lot of them are smaller than me! I ran the 40m dash my freshman year in 4.2s    set my weight class- leg press record with 975 lbs (10 reps, really) and was able to squat 350 lbs. I have the physical part down for the most part but get so nervious and intimidated by other players...I have a good 5 months until next season and i've been getting ready for next season for the last month or so (going to gym 4 days a week). This may sound lame but do you have any advice? I don't want to get so close to tryouts and be to scared to go for it...

Thanks

Answer
Hello RPW

Here's the question - what's different about high school football?  What I mean is, what's going on with you feeling small (even though you aren't).  Are you are afraid of getting hurt?  It seems like maybe this started in (or even before) football camp.  What I suggest is sitting down with a pencil and paper and start writing down what was going through your mind BEFORE you went to high school football camp.  Did you go with the intention of participating in the tryouts or did you feel nervous then?  Now start thinking about your experiences in camp, day by day.  What happens a lot is that we mislearn information, and that information comes from something we see, hear, feel or experience.  Did something in particular happen in football camp, where after it happened you started to feel this way?  Maybe a comment from a coach or player, or you got knocked down, or ??  Often realizing this can really help us give ourselves a reality check, which is essentially what you are telling me you need.

You know from skiing that you can prepare for many things, but there are always things beyond your control.  But you keep skiing because you like skiing MORE than not skiing because you might get hurt.

Football is the same.

Good luck and let me know how it goes.

David

David Kenward, The Mental Coach
Sacramento, California
http://www.thementalcoach.com
Win the Mental Game: Perform better under pressure in any sport
Private sessions / Group seminars