In the final minutes of a close game, every play can mean the difference between victory and defeat. While X's and O's matter, players' ability to maintain mental clarity and physical composure truly shapes those crucial moments.
This video reveals battle-tested techniques for staying focused and controlled when the pressure is highest, drawing from both sports psychology and real-world experience on the sidelines.
Presenter Ben Carnes, Mental Performance Coach, Mental Training Plan. Former State Champion Assistant Football Coach. For his entire clinic, visit Glazier Drive and Mastering the Moment: Mental & Physical Control for High-Pressure Situations
Here are the key points:
1. Brain Science & Practical Application
- Coach Carnes emphasizes balancing scientific explanation (like amygdala function) with practical, simple concepts
- Uses the analogy of a "switch in the brain" that can flip between fear mode and performance mode
2. Focus & Performance Connection
- Explains how focus directly affects physical performance
- Uses examples like dirt bike riders and golf to show how focusing on obstacles can create problems
- Discusses how athletes might focus on past, future, external factors (like parents/coaches), or internal pressures
3. Mental Response Components
- Self-Talk: People have roughly 48.6 thoughts per minute, especially active during mistakes
- Physical Reactions: Includes breathing changes, heart rate, dry mouth, muscle tension
- Emotional Reactions: Can include worry, stress, anxiety, anger, or lack of confidence
4. Brain Structure & Control
- Describes three parts of the brain using a color analogy:
- Red (bottom): Automatic reactions
- Green (middle): Emotional responses
- Blue (top/front): Conscious control and strategy
5. Taking Back Control
- Emphasizes working backward from desired emotional state
- Highlights the importance of diaphragmatic breathing and its connection to the vagus nerve
- Focuses on practical strategies rather than just telling athletes to "take a deep breath"
