football..

Question
well..i am a kicker/punter and a working on becoming a defensive end...but on my kickoffs, which i do well in practice (btw i'm JV) but during the game i can't even get the ball in the air. no matter how hard i try to think positive, when i get to my drive/plant step, i think 'oh god, this aint gonna work out.' and i cant get that out of my head...what should i do?

Answer
Joey, the word "FLY" is now part of your kicking life.  Every time you see a game, in person or on TV, where the kicker/punter has a good kick, watch the ball go and yell out FLY!  Do this silently, in your mind, or you may scare your friends, family and neighbors!  

In practice, whenever you get the ball in the air, yell out FLY!  Again, to yourself.  Whenever you have a free minute, and it's safe to close your eyes, take a deep breath, close your eyes, picture or imagine you having a great kick IN PRACTICE and as the ball goes in the air yell FLY! (to yourself).  

Practice this A LOT.  You are training yourself to succeed and to make that ball FLY! whenever you want.  Do this for a week and really get it inside of your head.  If you do this, in as little as a week you will notice a boost in your confidence.  And on the field, in a game, you automatically focus on all of the times you've made the football FLY! and doing it in a game just comes naturally.  FLY! is now your keyword for success and in a game, before each kick, yell your keyword FLY! to yourself and kick better than ever.  And keep practicing, because the more you practice, the more FLY! becomes an even more powerful part of your life.

Good luck and let me know how it goes.

David

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