The Mental
Skills That Make
Good Athletes
GREAT!
Dr. Robert Neff
Mental Training, Inc.
Dallas, Texas
His Father Went to Prison
Brother Died in Accident
He Was Put In Jail
Bad Temper
Then Something Changed…
Questions
• What happened to Vince Young during the
summer before his sophomore year?
• What mental and emotional skills did he
acquire that turned him from a good
athlete to a great one
What Makes Good
Athletes Great?
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•
•
•
•
Big Reason “Why”
Clear Goals
Leadership Skills
Thought & Emotion Control
Optimism & Persistence
Big Reason “Why”
• Why was Vince driven to play football?
– Take care of his Mom and family
– Felt God put him on earth to play football
– To someday make his neighborhood safer
• Help your players find their reason WHY
they play the game
Clear Goals
• Vince put up pictures of his dreams all
around his room
• He was very specific about what he
wanted to accomplish
• He refused to let others define him or limit
his potential
• Have your players set and update goals
Leadership Skills
•
•
•
•
•
•
Showed he trusted his teammates
Lead by example (work ethic)
Used high positive energy
Teammates wanted to follow him
Communicated well with his coaches
Help your players practice leadership
“Leaders can be made”
Thought & Emotion Control
• Thoughts create emotions
• However, changing thoughts requires:
– Awareness of negative thoughts
– Knowledge of ideal thoughts
– Desire to change
– Practice changing
• Have your players memorize:
“The Emotion Wheel”
Optimism & Persistence
• Optimism is believing the future is positive
• In general, optimists internalize success
and externalize failure
• Optimism leads to persistence (not giving
up prematurely)
• Teach your players the value of optimism
So, What Happened During the
Summer of 2000 that Changed
Vince Young?
Help & Guidance
• His uncle became a role model
– showed him Michael Jordan responding to
hard fouls with class
• His mother – stopped using drugs and
began taking the family to church
• Steve McNair told him at a football camp
that he had talent
AND…
His H.S. football coach took an
interest in him and encouraged
him to get off the streets and
commit to athletics
Quick Review
• Remember the very valuable role you play
as football coaches in the lives of your
players
• Help them find their “Why”
• Teach them to set goals, control their
emotions, and never quit
• Lead by example
Questions
• REMEMBER:
– Get a Summary Sheet before you go
– Enter to win 1of 10 “Roadmap to the Zone” e-Books
Dr. Robert Neff
Mental Training, Inc.
www.robertneff.com