UofM Wolverine Pre-Game Mental Prep

      Some of you who never played football or any sport before may wonder why so much time and repetition go into practice prior to the game. Once a player has the technique and the game plan down shouldn't that be enough? Sure, if you want to a game full of unpredictable events. As it is there is always an element of the unpredictable in any competitive game. Lots of practice for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd teams are essential to ensure the players and the staff that everyone is on the same page. Even with lots of practice things can go wrong.

     People who love the game but never played may think that all of the preparation being made is to get players in physical shape so they can endure the rigors of the game. True. But don't rule out the mental preparation that must be disciplined and sharp by game day. Repetition builds physiological responses to plays and situations that a player won't have to think about, they can simply react!

     Practice is for conditioning the mind to make the body respond instinctively. Players who don't know the game plans, their positions, will think before they do what is needed. Teams that have a group of players that are instinctive on almost every play are lethal to play against.

     Understanding that you may wonder what a player is thinking a few days before a game? For example here in Ann Arbor everybody is talking about the allegations against Coach Rodriguez for breaking 'length of time in practice rules'.  Along with that everybody, including fans across the nation are set on the idea that the team must beat Western Michigan in the first game this week as a means of vindicating the embarrassment the allegations created. Screw the allegations. Fans are fans. The team either rule or be ruled, but not because gossip and innuendo.

     Michigan recruits some of the smartest players in the country. Not many teams have a boat-load of guys that can hold their own academically. Smart players learn complicated task well, improve their ability to perform those task with practice, and  are less likely to make common mistakes that will undermine their task. So if I am sitting in that locker room over the next few days after practice one of the most important factors bouncing around in my head is to avoid mistakes.  The Wolverines will do very well this first game if they force the Broncos into errors without getting penalized. One sure way of doing this is to forget about last year season. It's gone. A football field isn't a court with a judge. So put on the pads and go get some!

    The reason I bring this point up is that players get hyped on their roles during the game as they should. But few players think about what will happen if they jump offside too much, or grab a face mask, or spearhead a back during a tackle. DB's who are not completely confident about good clean coverage may pull on jerseys and arms while running down the field with a "flyboy".  A linebacker who isn't focused on making any mistakes might forget where he's supposed to be on a defensive formation change.

     Sometimes players forget their fundamentals. There is a reason fundamentals in holding the ball, catching, blocking, and tackling are practiced again and again. Because they've been proven to work since the stone age. So I don't want to reinvent the wheel.

    All of these things cost, and the worst games are those lost by teams that beat themselves. Offensive lineman can jump before the snap, a receiver can be lined-up offsides, a Center might choke and snap the ball poorly, in a 2rd and long a QB about to be dropped for a loss forgets to throw the ball away instead of losing yardage. These are mental areas that can destroy momentum on offensive drives, and  good defensive stands.

     The other thing it is important to remember is that the game is four quarters not two and a half. Some teams get a great start, but they don't play four quarters. A lot can happen in 15 minutes if a team is not careful and loses its focus.  Whether the Wolverines are ahead by the half, tied, or losing, I am looking for the team to stay cool,  make few mistakes, and to take what the Broncos give them for four full quarters of tough minded, physical football.

     If the Wolverines hit those Broncos hard again and again I'm sure that pony will get tired and drop.