As one of the fastest on the team and able to catch anything thrown at me, I played wide receiver. I had already caught 2 passes this game and successfully did my job of luring 2 men downfield to take them out of plays so others could score.

I was the smallest one out there, but dangerously quick. Then, a sweep was called. This is where the quarterback hands off to the halfback who follows the lead of 3 blockers and they are sweeping around my end.

 

My job is to go up to one of the linemen and keep him from moving outside with the sweep. The ball is snapped and I move toward the inside and go right up against the biggest guy on the other team with my arms crossed and my elbows high in my perfect blocking stance. The other guy gives me a simple little push to my chest and I go down flat on my back. I remember being in shock thinking,

“How did that happen?!”

You see, I didn’t know I was small until that day. But, after picking myself up and dusting myself off, I woke up to my own self awareness in sports that day and how to turn it to my advantage.

Because later that game, while playing defense, the other team began a play that got whistled dead before it fully went off. I noticed the formation and habits of the players that tipped me off as to exactly what the play was going to be!

They didn’t bother to re-huddle and call a different play and so for a football player, this is like a poker player knowing exactly what cards the others at the table are holding.

“My smarts and small size became my secret weapons.” -Craig Sigl

I then, took advantage of my small size and literally hid behind one of my own players at the line before the snap. Right as the ball snapped, I slipped between defenders into their backfield and intercepted the pitch pass to the halfback in mid-air and ran all the way for a touchdown!

You want to always think that you have an advantage of some sort. My smarts and small size became my secret weapons.

 

Even if you are totally overmatched, then you have the advantage of surprise and nobody expecting you to beat them. Always focus on your strengths and exploit them to your fullest to build your confidence.

By the way, that defensive lineman who pushed me down actually went on to play in the NFL as an All-Pro and his name is Duvall Love.

I think about being flattened by a great NFL player as my badge of courage and today I look back on that day as a powerful turning point in my becoming the mental toughness trainer. 

I’m Craig Sigl,
Your Mental Toughness Trainer