Hero or goat?
No kicker wants to hear the word goat or even ‘choke’. In fact just saying either word probably brings sweat bullets to any kicker’s forehead. I know it did with me.
It’s what every kicker fears the most…missing the ‘big’ game winning kick and the feeling of ‘lack of control’ when it’s time to step up and nail a field goal when it’s needed.
For some kickers who figure this out early though, every field goal is generally needed (at least at the time the head coach calls for field goal!)
Some kickers actually thrive on pressure and seem to perform their best when under the gun so to speak. Others can simply crumble. They can physically shake uncontrollably when the coach is standing over their shoulder for instance.
So, what is choking as it relates to kicking footballs?
Choking in any sport happens when an athlete becomes ‘paralyzed’ with anxiety, tension, a basic fear of failure.
Ever hear of a self-fulfilling prophecy? That means that when you think it, you become it, you do it.
You put the future (prophecy) out in front of you, see the failure, feel the failure, and then (cringe) simply ‘fulfill’ the prophecy…you make it happen unfortunately.
The more it happens, the worse it gets!
I’ve personally been on both sides of the fence at all levels, as have most kickers if they kick long enough. However, whether you missed or made the last kick, it doesn’t matter!
How do we correct this kicker choke issue though? It’s a big problem for many, and I’ve seen high school kickers fall apart in front of the head coach at practice, let alone a full stadium.
3 ways kickers can work through the jitters during crunch time:
Kick Mad: I know it sounds strange, but when you treat your kicks more like you have something to prove rather than everything to lose, you can physically change the way you feel while performing. Stay aggressive and kick to make it, not to ‘not miss it’.- Focus On The Process: In our video training, we talk about kicking like a robot both physically and mentally. From the mental aspect, this means programming your brain to feed the process in steps, over and over while performing the big kick. This helps override the mind’s natural tendency to protect you from ‘danger’ (maybe I shouldn’t do this, I might get hurt, might mess up, etc).
- Embrace The Moment: You have to love kicking, and kicking under the lights. We all get nervous, but face it…for a kicker, this is one of the few moments we truly have to shine. You want to be in the headlines tomorrow for winning the game, right? Embrace the moment, make it yours!
