Mental Preparation For Elite Rugby Players
David Griffiths
The game of rugby has changed considerably since the advent of professionalism. The hits have gotten bigger and so have the players. But one aspect often forgotten is the mental side of the game.
How often have games been won or lost on the strength of one player's temperament? Expert mental preparation can be the difference between consistent stellar performances and patchy displays. The truly professional teams are those that play to the same standard week in, week out, no matter who they are up against. It can be the only thing separating two teams with similar amounts of physical and tactical training. But what exactly is involved, and how can a coach ensure his team are in peak mental condition before a game? Also, how do they achieve that edge that allows them to perform under pressure? After all, it's this that wins World Cup -- look at Johnny Wilkinson in 2003! Consistency is one of the primary aims of mental training. One way to achieve this is to try and make training sessions as non-linear and unpredictable as a real game of rugby is. For example, the RFU in England employs Gazing Ltd., a professional sports training company to prepare its national team mentally. Its trainers do so by disrupting training sessions -- for example, telling key players they are suddenly out with injuries. In doing so, they prepare players for losing their star teammates in a real game, and so the impact is greatly lessened when it does happen. Making players prepare for the unexpected leaves them in a much stronger mental state, and many players have taken greatly to this form of preparation. Giving players very specific goals can give them a greater sense of direction and a motivation to play at their peak. Munster and Ireland hooker Jerry Flannery often talks of the Munster team conviction to get up immediately after a tackle or ruck. The whole pressure of the team and the mental and emotional connection with the other players gives him (and his teammates) the extra boost they need to get up and keep going, to get those extra seconds and half-seconds that give them the edge over the opposition. Munster are an extremely physical side, but it is because of their mental training that they can get up and keep going after the big hits. Specific, measured goals make the task of preparing for a game seem all the more manageable. When coaches can provide their players with such goals, the players can focus on small, achievable things, rather than broad and amorphous goals. For example, focusing on winning the lineout is more manageable than focusing on winning the game. Relaxation is another element of mental preparation for the elite rugby player. A player must find time to relax to avoid being eaten up by the stress and tension of a big game. The best players are those who can perform at their peak under great pressure, such as Imanol Harinordoquy, the French number eight, who consistently performs at his best, even under great stress. Sean Lamont, the Scottish winger, also rates relaxation and mental preparedness as one of the most important elements of professional rugby: "If your head's not properly switched on, it's never going to work. I basically try to take it easy before a match and try not to get too worked up. I think it's key not to think too much. You can over analyse and if you do tip over the edge it can be quite hard to get back." Out-halves in particular develop systems of relaxation to improve their focus and concentration when kicking from place -- potentially the most stressful part of any game, and the time at which most depends on one player. Many out-halfs have one practised kicking technique that they use no matter how important the kick is. By not varying, they can focus in on the kick perfectly. In the modern game, the gaps between the top teams are becoming tighter and closer as players are pushed to their physical limits. In such a world, it is no surprise that more and more professional teams are turning to sports psychologists and mental trainers to give their teams that extra edge on the field. The area of mental preparation in rugby is one that is sure to grow.
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