Stress is a constant obstacle athletes need to tackle in football to win. Being able to overcome stress and having good coping skills is key to becoming a successful athlete and having a cohesive team. Since it is so stressful, coaches incorporate consistent schedules and different approaches to practices.
Under the coaching of Carter, the Knights finished the season undefeated as the Catoctin District champions and earned the top spot with a first-round bye in the 4C Regional Tournament. With the regular season over and the postseason approaching, players are now feeling the pressure. Most athletes experience anticipatory anxiety, which is the act of worrying about the future or the outcome of an event which can lead to stress and underperformance during practices and games. A consistent schedule which includes plenty of rest helps control anticipatory anxiety. Which is exactly what Carter is doing for his players.
“There is definitely more stress in a postseason game compared to a regular season game,” captain Tyler Kann said. “To help, on game days I like to listen to music and focus on my schoolwork to help clear my mind.”
All athletes have different ways of coping with their stress. Having their coaches keep a consistent schedule can help but the players need to do some relaxation on their own. Whether that’s hanging out with friends, doing schoolwork, or listening to music, like Kann, they all have coping mechanisms.
“During the playoffs, we practice out on the field but we also dedicate more time to film from previous games,” head coach Lee Carter said. “During the playoffs, I would like to see improvement in the minimal mistakes as well as improved tackling.”
He explained how he wants to practice mental and physical work during the playoff season. As much as football is a physical sport, it is also mental. Improving both physical and mental play is exactly how the Varsity Football team will continue to come out on top.
“The best mindset to have is that we are still going to dominate the other team even though Champe has smaller players,” left tackle and defensive lineman Bryce Copeland said. “We trust our coaches’ advice during the game and listen to their instincts. They want to watch us succeed.”
Copeland, like the rest of the team, knows that he always has things to improve on. Still, the team comes out on top even with the difficulties and adversity that they may experience. Being able to identify what the team’s weaknesses are helps them to become a more cohesive unit during the playoffs. Trusting their coach’s instincts and advice allows them to relax and enjoy the game knowing that they are doing exactly what is expected of them.
“The stress doesn’t affect me too much,” wide receiver Elijah Marshall said. “It feels like a regular game week with how the coaches schedule practices and when I am on the field the adrenaline kicks in and my mind doesn’t care about anything else besides the game.”
When coaches keep their schedules consistent, like Carter, their players greatly benefit from it. Knowing what is going to happen every day in practice helps the athletes’ minds relax and enjoy the game without worrying about the future. Worrying about the future can often lead to underperforming during practice and games which can cause the players to be less confident on and off the field.
“Making sure that we trust our coaches is a big part of overcoming stress before big games,” Copeland said. “We notice that we all have the anxiety but it’s how we react to it that counts.”
With all of the stress and anticipatory anxiety the student athletes face, Carter wants his team to have fun and be themselves. “I want the guys to be relaxed, live in the moment, enjoy it, and to have fun,” Carter said.
Update 12/10/24: The Knights defeated Woodgrove, 44-21, unfortunately John Champe lost in the 4C Regional Final against Tuscarora. The John Champe Varsity football team completed the season with an overall record of 11-1, making this the best record in school history.
