Missouri football utilizes sports psychologists
The doctors help players practice their focus for game day.
Published Sept. 17, 2010
This year's Missouri football team has a lot of visible weapons: a veteran defense, a talented group of freshman and a returning starter at quarterback. But the most recent addition to Tigers’ arsenal is an advantage that cannot be seen.
Coach Gary Pinkel is a firm proponent of a sound mind in addition to a sound body in his players. That’s why he has two sports psychologists on his staff that train the Tigers throughout the year.
“What triggered it is the term focus,” Pinkel said. “My concern is that we don’t focus well enough. That’s kind of typical of kids these days.”
Pinkel and the psychologists strive to condition the players to focus, whether it is during the game or while preparing the week before. Some questions the sports psychologists ask the players: How do you focus after a bad play? How do you focus after a good play? What goes through your mind during the week as you prepare?
Sophomore wide receiver T.J. Moe knows the benefits of the program firsthand and is happy to see his teammates take advantage.
“Our team has taken it very seriously,” Moe said. “That’s the only way it can help you is if you really take it seriously and use it.”
Although Pinkel praised the services the doctors provide for his team, he said there is no “magic” to the system. There is much more to playing good football than the mental side of things.
“Ninety-five percent of football is still being physically strong enough,” Pinkel said. “But there’s that other little edge that we can get to help our players.”
Moe pursues that extra edge with the same passion he uses to improve his play in practice. The budding wideout takes advantage of the psychology meetings that have helped him since his freshman year.
“I think it’s been a tremendous help,” Moe said. “It’s just focus. A lot of times, especially for young guys, it’s hard for us to go from one thing to another and re-focus every time.”
No matter how mentally sound they are, nothing can compare to live action and game experience for the Tiger youngsters.
Injuries and suspensions on the Missouri defense have given a chance for some underclassmen to prove themselves early in the season. Senior linebacker Andrew Gachkar knows how important those opportunities are for the depth chart.
“It’s definitely a big thing,” Gachkar said. “It’s key in getting depth, and that’s something you need when you go into conference play. They all got good time, so that’s definitely positive.”
The Tigers are now focused on San Diego State as they prepare for Saturday's game.