| Model Composure
If the quarterback sees your frustration after an interception, that only amplifies the emotional pain for the player. Model composure so the athlete learns by observation how to deal with adversity. Don't attempt to coach the athlete under the umbrella of anger or frustration. Wait until you calm down before giving instructions. Save your instruction for the next break in play when you and the player have both cooled off.
Pick Him Up
Your reaction to a mistake may be to reprimand the player, but that may only lead to deflating his confidence further. Confidence can be fragile for many athletes. An athlete needs to know that you still have confidence in him after a mistake. Even though you feel like benching the athlete, show him support with a verbal or non-verbal reinforcement such as a word of encouragement or a pat on the back.
Don't Dwell on the Error
Dwelling on the error only serves to make you more frustrated and upset. Let the dropped pass go... it's in the past, you can't change what already has happened. You can only change your reaction to the dropped ball. And to do your job well, you need to focus on the current play or series, not the last one. If the receiver is still in the game, help him focus on the current play too. Tell him what you want him to do instead of what you don't want to happen again. Focusing too much on not dropping a pass can make it become a reality.
The 3 R's for Composure
To help your athletes develop composure, teach them the 3 R's, which stands for: Recognize, Regroup, Refocus. When frustration, anger, or dejection is affecting one of your players, this tells me the athlete is dwelling. Between plays is an excellent time for football players to regroup and get ready for the next play. The first step is to RECOGNIZE he is dwelling on the missed tackle or block. Then the next task is to REGROUP by interrupting the chain of thought. And the last step and most critical is to REFOCUS on the next play. We want to see athletes asking themselves the following question: "What do I need to focus on right now?" The answer helps to refocus the person on the task-relevant cues for the next play.
Composure is a Team Effort
A team atmosphere in which players support each other after a setback is a mark of a cohesive team. For a running back that is hanging his head after a fumble, it means a lot to that player when the team members show their support with some words of encouragement. Ask the team members to commit to showing their confidence in their teammates after a mistake or setback. The running back needs to know that his team members are behind him and still have confidence that he can get the job done.
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