Belichick Tests Player's Mental Toughness in Training Camp


Belichick has always stressed the importance of his mental preparation for every game and it seems as if he has prioritized this strategy of being smarter than the other team to his players. In the early part of training camp, Belichick has put his players through the normal physical tests, but has also added a test that  challenges the minds of his players.

Belichick said, “In the end, our ability to perform under pressure is critical. In that light, it really comes down to two things: Number one, the team process - all of us being able to work together and perform productively in the way that we need to do to win. We use the term ‘mental toughness’ a lot, and to me that term means doing the right thing for the team when things aren’t right for you.”

Belichick goes on to explain, "Sometimes it becomes a fine line between doing what’s best for the team and your individual performance. The way we try to handle that, or manage it, is that your individual performance is critical for us to win and your mental toughness is doing what’s best for the team in every situation; so being solid and doing your job. And if you’re prepared and everybody around you knows that you are prepared and they can count on you, and you’re dependable to go out and do your job, then it makes it a lot easier for the person beside you to go out and do theirs.”

So in order to combat this natural desire for players to put themselves first, Belichick puts players through a sort of test to gauge their mental toughness in critical situations. Belichick backs the results of his test saying, “So the whole idea of the ‘do your job’ feeling is to make sure you do your job and you’re prepared, and you’re confident in what you’re doing going into the game. We give them written tests, or tests on the screen, so their teammates can see that they’re prepared, they’re ready for the game, they’re ready for these situations that we’ve covered.”

This is a great look into how a well-prepared coach game plans every one of his players so no situation is too big for them to handle. When it comes right down to it, every football player that’s made it in the NFL is a great athlete (some naturally better than others), but what separates the good from the best is often between the ears.

Game plans and watching tape isn’t just for the coaches. Players are tested mentally in every game based on a team’s tendencies, strengths, weaknesses and knowing all those characteristics goes a long way to raising the Lombardy Trophy at the end of a mentally taxing season.

Josh Brown
@TitleTownTalkSB