How to mentally prepare for Rugby?

[[email protected]]

I live in the U.S and I play a range of forward positions in college. I am 5'11 and 250 lbs and am an average player I guess.

However, I am not comfortable tackling and rucking/mauling on the field. I have a hard time thrusting myself into the "action".

It seems like I feel a lot more comfortable watching on the side of a ruck of tackle then get into it myself. I am fine in practices but on game days, I "shy" away from the action.


So how I can mentally prepare myself and be more "active" on the field. My fitness level is good and I know the fundamentals.

 

[Woldog]

I used to have this problem, I'm not the biggest guy and playing against my friends at training in full contact sessions I seemed to go 100% but in games I was shy and sort of stood out on the wing half the time, after a while I started watching a hell of a lot of rugby tests/Super 14 and the like that triggered something in my mind that made me want to get out there and tackle people, however I was still nervous, so I would suggest that you listen to music before a game and not pansy music so no "I kissed a Girl and I liked it" or w/e Listen to some Metal, or in the lack of real metal listen to Ghost of You by My Chemical Romance (No I'm not Emo) Its all about triggering the mind set.

Listen to music that makes you angry or sad, don't just listen to music you like, after that it's all up to you, the easiest thing is to get angry but that can make your game play suffer, so stay calm but at the same time think of something that makes you angry (just like the plot of the Waterboy). There is only so much we can tell you to do the rest is up to you to make it happen, because all that's wrong with you right now is that you are afraid of getting hurt, it's nothing to be ashamed of its just your mind doing the natural thing like jumping out of the way of a freight train, you just have to break your mind into not being afraid. (Also just run and jump at rucks, who cares if you hurt someone on the ground it's good fun.)

 

[Kellini]

I often listen to music like Woldog said. In fact we have a huge ghetto blaster for our whole team that can be heard from miles around

Another thing I focus on is one-on-one confrontation. 'If that guy coming towards me thinks he can get through me, after hours in the gym and more on the training field, he's got another thing coming' (with more swearing in my mind )

Also, believe you are playing for your team. If you miss a tackle, and the guy goes through on a break and scores, you're letting your team down. The fellas you play with week in week out must mean something to you! Fight that little bit extra, smash those rucks, dump those tackles and make those inches (without going all Al Pacino on you)!!!

 

[Steve-o]

Hmm, I'm gonna come from a different angle on this one.

The best way to get over a mental 'thing' imo is to practice and refine the activity your dealing with. Another way of putting it is be confident in your skill and technique in a ruck. Watch an Aussie team once in awhile, accuracy and aggression are the keys to rucking imo.

I guess music can psyche you up and so on, but that's a too shallow exercise for me. Imagine you left your iPod at home one game. Ohh ma gawwwd!! Nah, leave that stuff out. Be confident in your rugby, and you'll want to get stuck to test yourself.

 

[Gavin]

As a 5ft4, 10 stone scrum-half, I have the knack of shying away from tackles by taking backwards paces. It depresses me because I know I should be trying to tackle and move towards the opposition, but in a match situation I don't. Any advice? Also my passing off my "weaker" left hand ain't the best, any advice on that guys?

 

[feicarsinn]

the best way in my opinion is to get hurt. it sounds stupid but it always turns me into a ball of rage and you dont really think about pain or anything other than icking the crap out of the other team

 

[frntline]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (feicarsinn @ Feb 11 2009, 11:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

the best way in my opinion is to get hurt. it sounds stupid but it always turns me into a ball of rage and you dont really think about pain or anything other than icking the crap out of the other team[/b]

just not bad hurt like getting stomped I'm gonna assume hes saying. But yeah music is a good way i still always get nervous when were I play but only until kick off. One thing that always gets me going is watching those rugby montages on youtube and rugbydump like the ones "Why I love Rugby" or something I put them on my mp3 player and watch them if i have time before the Game. It really gets me pumped!

 

[frntline]

here are a few that i love

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyCTgvR2cxY RWC 07 Highlights

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2fzEbct4T0 06 6 Nations Hightlights

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8kbDmmOAJU Just a good Why i love Rugby

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRpPf6rCyW4...player_embedded And one more Why We love rugby

and We cant do without the Los Pumas http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseacti...ideoid=20422524

 

[Woldog]

Just don't get so angry you take a gun onto the field or something, because than you are over angry.

 

[poopiepeople]

Do something that will make you feel psychologically strong, wether it's listening to music (like most), watching rugby hits and videos, or even imagining your opposite player is that moron who used to try to shoulder you in high school for no reason.

 

[NHH]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Gavin @ Feb 11 2009, 04:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div>

As a 5ft4, 10 stone scrum-half, I have the knack of shying away from tackles by taking backwards paces. It depresses me because I know I should be trying to tackle and move towards the opposition, but in a match situation I don't. Any advice? Also my passing off my "weaker" left hand ain't the best, any advice on that guys?[/b]

Im pretty much the same size as you are, a bit taller, and I play at number 9 too. Not sure about the league you play in but if its like mine alot of the opposition is bigger than you and they all think that they're just going to run right through you because they're the greatest. The most satisfying thing to me is the look on their face when they get taken down by someone quite a bit smaller than them and that look makes me want to do it over and over again.

As for the OP, you just have to overcome that fear of getting hurt. The worst thing you could do in a game is be hesitant, you'll just get hurt more. When you play a game the first ruck or maul you see, hit it as hard as you can. Get the adrenaline pumping and just go for it.

 

[dundeesmiffy]

A rule of thumb I always learned was, the harder you hit the guy, the less it hurts you...I don't know if that's true, but it's what I always thought before I tried to clear someone out or do anything that I would otherwise be scared of.

Just know what you're doing basically, think of it like this "Right, that guy is trying to steal the ball at the breakdown, I need to get him away from the ball", focus more on what happens after you drive him back. This hand in hand with the knowledge you'll gain as you play rugby more; being around rucks enough etc. you'll start to see how they work, and remember, you don't have to drive the guy back, you just need to get him away from the ball.

 

[alexrugby]

Watch this

RUGBY SOUL

 

[Canadian_Rugger]

Two words Violent Love

learn to love hating that other a**hole across from you and learn to love Violence albeit controlled violence

 

[danny]

I think its all about confidence. Confidence in your technique and ability. Practice as much as you can on your weak points and they will improve. Only problem is if you dont have a certain level of bravery when it comes to tackling you cant really progress. An old coach of mine used to tell us not to play with a smile on our face but a snarl. Funny but it seemed to work.