HOW TO MAKE THE FOOTBALL TEAM

Question
WHAT KIND OF MENTAL STATE AND PHYSICAL STATE U HAVE TO BE IN TO MAKE THE FOOTBALL TEAM???...HOW TO PUT UP WITH THE COACH SHOUTING AT U??

Answer
Aaron -

Thanks for the question.  Well buddy, it takes a lot to make, and be a beneficial part of a football team.  Thats why so many people choose other sports.  Athletes can get away with not being both physically and mentally tough in some sports, but not football.  So lets take a minute to go over what you will need.

First and foremost, you have to remember one crucial thing.  Football coaches yell and scream, and in general are tough on players for one reason - they want you to do the best you can possibly do.  And unlike other sports, there is a true risk of danger everytime you go out and play.  So coaches want to make sure that you understand that if you do things the wrong way, you can get seriously hurt.  And for most people, like you are concerned about, making a strong impact is critical.  So they do their best to make sure you will not forget what they are telling you.  Thats why they take that approach.

So for you, being both mentally and physically tough is very important.  Physically, for the obvious reason, is to not only have you perform to your best ability, but also to help you prevent injuries.  There are a lot of big, strong guys in football, and if you do not prepare for that, its a bad idea to even step on the field.

Mentally, its like I mentioned above.  You have to fully understand what you are getting into before playing.  Also, remember, coaching is a tough, high pressure position.  Nobody, no matter where you are, wants a coach that does not win.  So the coaches feel the pressure just like a player does.  They dont have years and years to start winning, so they are hard on their players.  Also, they want the best for you, and in a high impact sport, talking nice and sweet usually does not work.. Think of it like the military...  Have you ever heard of a drill sergeant who doesnt yell and order his soldiers around?  Thats because when the bullets start flying, people in general have the tendency to panic. Same for football.  Once games begin, and the real hitting starts, players need to have had their assignments engrained into their heads so they can perform to the best of their abilities, and not get hurt in the meantime.

Think about this a while, and search your heart to see if football is right for you.  If it is, then go for it.  If it isnt, and you feel it would be too hard to be in that environment, there is no shame in that either.  Feel free to write back with any other questions you might have in the future.

Best wishes

Coach Perl