Winning starts with what happens between the ears.
Rugby is a physical game, but so much of what determines our performance comes down to what happens in our heads.
Whether you're playing for the 1st XV, Tigers, 3rd XV, Academy or one of our junior sides, developing the right mindset can make an enormous difference.
Here are five ideas that every Westcombe Park player — and coach — should think about.
1. Stop Focusing on Winning. Start Focusing on What You Can Control.
Everyone wants to win. That's why we compete.
But here's the problem: you cannot control the result.
You can influence it, certainly, but you cannot guarantee it.
What you can control is your effort, your communication, your defensive positioning, your support lines, your discipline and your response when something goes wrong.
A player who spends 80 minutes worrying about the scoreboard is directing their attention towards something they cannot control.
A player who concentrates on winning the next collision, making the next tackle or getting back into position is doing something far more productive.
At Combe, the challenge is simple: concentrate on the actions that give us the best chance of winning, rather than worrying about winning itself.
2. Do You See an Opportunity or a Threat?
Two players run onto the same rugby pitch.
One sees an opportunity to test themselves, make tackles, carry hard and enjoy competing.
The other sees the possibility of making mistakes, letting teammates down or being exposed by a better opponent.
Same pitch. Same opposition. Completely different mindsets.
Why?
Because how we interpret a challenge depends on our confidence, previous experiences, mood, anxiety and belief in our own abilities.
And here's something important for our coaches: the same situation can feel very different to different players.
A young Academy graduate making his 1st XV debut might see a wonderful opportunity. Another might be terrified of making a mistake.
Our job, as teammates and coaches, is to help players see challenges as opportunities rather than threats.
When we face a particularly strong opponent, don't ask, "What if we're not good enough?"
Ask, "What a great opportunity to find out how good we can be."
3. Prepare for Your Best Game. But Be Ready for Your Worst.
We all love those days when everything clicks.
The passes stick, tackles are made, decisions come naturally and you feel almost unbeatable.
But rugby isn't always like that.
Sometimes you're tired. Sometimes you're carrying a knock. Sometimes the opposition are simply better than you expected. Sometimes nothing seems to go right.
The mistake is preparing only for the days when you're playing at your best.
Mental toughness isn't about producing a 9/10 performance every Saturday.
Sometimes producing a 6/10 performance when everything is going against you is an extraordinary achievement.
Can you still tackle? Can you still communicate? Can you still work for your teammates? Can you still make good decisions when your confidence has disappeared?
At Combe, we need players who can contribute even when they're having a difficult afternoon.
Your best possible performance on a bad day is every bit as valuable as your best performance on a good one.
4. Remember Why You Play Rugby.
What motivates you?
For some, it's the desire to win.
For others, it's the hatred of losing.
Some love the physical confrontation. Some love the satisfaction of mastering a skill. Others simply love being part of a team, sharing the changing room and playing alongside their mates.
There is no single correct motivation.
But whatever drives you, use it positively.
If you love winning, channel that into doing your job properly.
If you hate losing, use that energy to make the next tackle rather than dwelling on the last mistake.
If you love being part of a team, demonstrate it by working for the bloke next to you.
Motivation is only useful when it produces positive actions.
And perhaps that's worth remembering when results aren't going our way. The reasons we fell in love with rugby haven't disappeared simply because we've lost a few matches.
5. You Don't Have to Feel Confident to Play Confidently.
This might be the most important lesson of all.
During a match, every player will experience negative thoughts.
"I've just missed another tackle."
"I'm having a terrible game."
"We're going to throw this lead away."
"I'm not good enough at this level."
These thoughts are perfectly normal. Even the best players experience them.
The trick isn't to eliminate them. It's to stop allowing them to dictate your next action.
You've missed a tackle? Get back into the defensive line.
You've thrown a poor pass? Communicate and offer yourself again.
You've conceded three tries in ten minutes? Forget the scoreboard and concentrate on the next restart.
Confidence doesn't always come before positive action. Very often, positive action creates confidence.
You don't have to feel brave to make a brave decision.
You don't have to feel confident to carry hard.
And you certainly don't have to feel positive to work your socks off for your teammates.
Acknowledge the negative thought, let it pass, and get on with the next job.
The Combe Mindset
If there's one message running through all five lessons, it's this:
We cannot always control what happens to us on a rugby pitch. But we can learn to control how we respond.
There will be missed tackles, dropped passes, poor refereeing decisions, injuries and opponents who are better than us on the day.
There will also be wonderful tries, huge defensive sets, great victories and afternoons when everything comes together.
Our challenge is to develop players who respond constructively to both.
Players who don't become frightened of losing when they're ahead or stop believing when they're behind.
Players who understand that resilience isn't something you either have or haven't got. It's something you develop through experience, preparation and the support of your teammates.
And above all, players who understand that whatever has just happened, the most important moment in the game is the next one.