BUILDING CONFIDENCE FOR FINALS

                                          

With finals right on our doorstep (not mine unfortunately!) there's not much more as coach that you can do in regards to team tactics/strategies or individual physical conditioning between now and the Grand Final.

Hopefully since December last year you have been able to instill all the team tactics and strategies you want and need to hit the last game of the year and now it's a matter of constant checking for understanding among the playing group on an individual and team line basis.

When players are well aware of their individual and team roles and responsibilities then your job as coach is pretty much done - it's in the players hands now, and that's where you want to be at this time of the year.

Once that has been achieved then it's all a psychological game on which team of individuals can carry out their collective tasks over 4 quarters and this is where confidence comes in.

When 2 teams are playing are playing against each other with equal tactical, strategic and physical abilities, the team who can execute those qualities with more confidence will win.

A quick example of this is both teams adapt at switching the ball from the back line where q team goes all the way around the boundary line to their forward line in 5 - 10 possessions in 20 - 30secs compared to the team that switches the ball but then bites off an in-board kick that straightens them back up and enables them to hit their forward line in 3 - 6 possessions in 10 - 20secs.

The coach really needs to know his players at this point to ensure every single player is beaming with confidence of what they can do individually and collectively against the best opposition. 

Here are some things to look for thanks to Dan Abrahams, a coach I've referenced more times than I can remember in my content.

What To Look For

Players looking lethargic, hiding, looking lost, reacting with stronger than normal emotion, are being quieter than normal and making uncommon errors for them.

What Are They Going Through

They are mentally rehearsing failure in their heads so ask them to recall their best game and remind them of moments of success in the not so distant past and ask them what their biggest supporter would say about their game when they are at their best.

What Can You Do

They are in dire need of certainty of instruction so ask questions to clarify what they know, explain your points in a simple and concise way, come back to them later in the week and test their understanding then retest again close to game time.

Another method you can use is to help them pick the 2 -3 most important tasks that they can focus on and help them make them specific and controllable.

Helping them with positive, helpful and energising self talk to squash automatic negative thoughts and insisting on great body language are also psychological boosting factors you can turn to.