Fake It, 'Til You Make It
Paul Assad
Article posted on 12/11/2009

How To Reduce Anxiety Before Any Kick, Kick Off, Punt or Long Snap.

Here's a great way to reduce anxiety before any attempt.

Act as if!

Act as if you're someone else - Fake it (For Now). If you're on an field and you feel anxious, act as if you were Mason Crosby (Green Bay Packers NFL Record Setting Kicker) and about to Kick Off, and you have it in your mind now you are going kick a touchback.

If you've got to hit a game winning kick and you feel nervous, act as if you are Adam Vinatieri (Indianapolis Colts Super Bowl Game Winning Kicker) and there's "No Question" that this field goal is going thru the sticks with authority because you now have the confidence and swagger to be smooth and execute. If you are backed up into your end zone need to hit a real punt with the full rush coming at you, then think and act as if you are Mike Scifres (Chargers All-Pro Punter) and think you are going to launch a 65-yard bomb.

If you need to get that Deep Snap perfect and you are concerned about the outcome - think and act as if you are David Binn, San Diego Chargers Deep Snapper and just let it go "Perfectly".

You can have some fun with these. You can "Think" and "Act" as if you are playing like someone else essentially "FAKING IT". Pick whichever players you like.

Hey, football is only a game, so make it fun. You might be surprised how well you can do playing these fun games absent of worry. Just let go for a practice or a game or two and play around with this acting thing. You may not win an "Oscar" but you sure will have some fun, one of the reasons you play and hey, what if on this journey it works enough times that you develop your own confidence? Then you would have "Faked it - 'til you Made it".

So again, just a fun distraction, go out there and "act as if" you are someone else for each time you are out there or even in your mind, act as though you're confident. Act as though you are a great player going out there with more confidence, less anxiety and having more fun.

I'd love to hear how this works for you. Write me back after you've tried it.

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