One of my favorite movies is Hoosiers, starring Gene Hackman as Norman Dale, a rundown basketball coach with a hidden past who attempts to restart his life in Hickory, Indiana, a basketball-crazed town. Dale is an outsider, who doesn’t endear himself to the townsfolk at first; when the team begins to win, they rally behind him. Hickory reaches the State finals in Indianapolis, and Dale takes the team onto the court the day before the game. With a tape measure in hand, Dale has his players measure the distance from the backboard to the free throw line. Then he has them measure the height of the rim. After they take both measurements, he explains they are the same exact size as their home gym in Hickory. Dale wanted his players to understand the game isn’t changing because the venue is bigger, and the stakes are higher. The only thing that matters is how they play on that night—nothing else. This story might appear to be only for Hollywood or high s chool kids, yet the reality is omni-present for professional athletes.
The Super Bowl is the largest stage of any event and comes with enormous pressure. Preparing players to deal with the situation is one of the head coach’s biggest challenges. Not only must Andy Reid and Nick Sirianni devise a championship game plan impacting the game on the field, but they also need another plan to help the players handle the “moment.” Fortunately, both teams have players and coaches who understand the Super Bowl “moment,” which will allow them to help their teammates and coaches understand how to stay calm and relaxed when the game starts. Panicking can become the biggest enemy in the game. How players and coaches keep their poise will be a critical part of our handicapping when predicting the outcome.
So how will Reid and Sirianni approach the mental aspect? These five steps will be their focus, helping the entire team.
Handling the Mental Challenge
1. Keep your concentration in the “now.” In every NFL game, the most important play is the next play. The team that can go from one good or bad play to the next without losing focus will win the game.