How to keep focused

Question
Hi, My name is Jason I'm a 9th grader QB and i could use some help. I always have at least one game during the year were i do horrible usually the first game. This year i was a total wreck the first game couldn't do anything for my team just played horrible. Was wondering if you had any advice on how to prepare better and keep more focused during and before a game.

Answer
Hello Jason,

This happens with a lot of quarterbacks.  There is so much excitement and pressure that you get scattered, can't focus, and don't play your best.  A good way to overcome this is mental practice.  When you are when focused when practicing in your imagination, your mind learns the habit of being focused in actual games.

Here's a mental training tool to do it.  Get relaxed, close your eyes, and take five slow deep breaths.  Then, picture or imagine a time when you played well in practice, when you were focused.  Really hone in on that, everything you saw, heard, felt and experienced.  Notice how focused you are.   Now change to another practice when you were focused and did great.  Notice again how you felt.  And do it again, the same thing.  

Now, picture or imagine a game when you felt focused.  Notice what you see, hear and feel.  Take a deep breath, and as you exhale, say to yourself, FOCUS, while imagining that game when you played well and were focused.  Do that five times, then take a deep breath, open your eyes and stretch it out.  What you've done is started to train your mind to associate a word - FOCUS - with your experience of being focused and playing great.  The more you practice this tool, the stronger that association gets.  After you've practiced it ten times, you are ready to start practicing it on the field.  When you are on the field, or even before a game, take in a breath, exhale and say to yourself FOCUS and you'll discover you'll feel more focused.  This can truly be your secret weapon.  I've helped many football players improve using this skill.  It works especially great for quarterbacks, because when you are focused, you can see patterns and holes develop, which help your game.  The more you practice, the better you will get.

Good luck and let me know how it goes.

David

David Kenward, The Mental Coach
Sacramento, California
http://www.thementalcoach.com