Best practices on and off the playing field: Lessons from the Super Bowl

Like millions of football fans, each year I look forward to watching the championship game of the National Football League (NFL) known as the Super Bowl. I am particularly excited to watch this year’s game as it features the American Football Conference champion Kansas City Chiefs battling my favourite team—the National Football Conference champion San Francisco 49ers. My fondness for the 49ers grew when my younger brother and I travelled to the Bay Area to watch them play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in December, 2022.

In addition to enjoying the game, as a psychologist I am fascinated by the life lessons which are displayed by the participants. In the following sections, I will discuss some of these.

The value of practice and rehearsal

I marvel at how the players and coaches often perform plays flawlessly in the stress of game conditions. They will acknowledge that it is not just their natural talent which leads to their ability to perform under pressure. Practice and rehearsal of how they need to execute in game situations is the key to being able to perform under pressure.

Practice and rehearsal is also critical to performing in stressful situations other than sports. This is evident in other performance activities such as acting, music, dance, and public speaking. But it extends to situations which you may not have considered. For example, I regularly use practice and rehearsal to help clients who have challenges managing anxiety and anger.

For anxiety management, my clients prepare and practice strategies to cope with events which may increase their anxiety in situations such as difficult conversations and job interviews. Doing so helps them to lower their anxiety to manageable levels in those situations. In turn, this makes it more likely that they will perform effectively in those situations.

For anger management, my clients prepare and practice strategies to cope with events which may increase their anger in situations and which can consequently lead them to react aggressively. Doing so helps them to lower their anger to manageable levels in those situations. In turn, this makes it more likely that they will manage their anger by responding constructively in those situations.

The ability to rebound from adversity

The San Francisco 49ers were behind the Detroit Lions 24-7 at halftime in this year’s NFC Championship—the game which would determine who would advance to the Super Bowl. Despite my being a devout fan of the Bay Area team, the deficit was so large that I gave up on their chances of winning at that point.

But in the second half, the 49ers came to life. They kept their composure in the face of a daunting challenge and executed the plays which allowed them to climb a huge mountain to prevail 34-31 over Detroit. It was a master class in rebounding from adversity.

Rebounding from adversity is also important to success in situations away from the playing field. For example, this skill is invaluable to clients with substance use issues. Clients with these issues often go back to using after having been sober for a good stretch of time. I work with these clients to help rebound from this adversity by getting back on track rather than giving up and returning to extensive use of the substance.

Success in couples counselling also often depends on being able to rebound from adversity. For example, I often work with couples on skills to help them communicate more constructively about issues so that there is less criticism, defensiveness and fighting. Couples who work on these skills typically make significant progress toward their goals. However, it is common for situations to arise in which they do not use the skills and there is a return to criticism, defensiveness and fighting. I work with these couples to help them rebound from this adversity by getting back on track rather than giving up.

The critical role of leadership

Leadership on and off the field has been central to the success of the 49ers and Chiefs. San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy, known as ‘Mr. Irrelevant’ for having been the last pick of his entire draft class, stepped up to guide his team in overcoming the huge deficit in the NFC Championship. Other leaders on the 49ers offense such as running back Christian McCaffrey, wide receiver Deebo Samuel and tackle Trent Williams paved the way for the comeback along with defensive leaders such as linebacker Fred Warner. Head coach Kyle Shanahan and his staff provided critical off-field leadership.

The Chiefs likely have the greatest on-field leader of his generation in quarterback Patrick Mahomes who is complemented by offensive leaders such as tight end Travis Kelce—better known these days as Taylor Swift’s boyfriend—and defensive leaders such as lineman Chris Jones and defensive back Trent McDuffie. Head coach Andy Reid and his staff have led their players admirably.

Leadership is equally important to success in situations away from the playing field. For example, I am forever grateful for the guidance provided by my parents and older siblings when I was growing up. I have succeeded in my education and work thanks to the leadership of teachers and supervisors. Coaches have been instrumental in my accomplishing my athletic goals. And my piano teacher’s instruction and encouragement has been pivotal in my becoming proficient in playing that instrument.

The benefits of teamwork and close relationships

A great leader such as Patrick Mahomes is the first person to acknowledge the importance of his teammates and the need to play together as a unit as fundamental to the Chiefs’ success. Teammates supporting each other to the point that they have each other’s backs not only leads to success, it builds close relationships which many players cite as what they cherish the most while playing and what they miss the most when they retire.

Working together as a team is equally important to success in situations away from the playing field whether it is in a relationship such as a marriage or a family or in work, educational or volunteer activities. And just as with teammates on a football team, the off-field close relationships which we build can provide us with the greatest happiness, meaning and fulfillment in our lives.

How pursuing goals enhances our well-being

Like 30 other NFL teams, the 49ers and Chiefs have been pursuing their common goal of winning a Super Bowl since the start of training camp. And although only one of the two remaining teams will enjoy the elation which comes with achieving that goal, players on every team will have received the far greater emotional benefits coming from pursuing such an exciting and challenging goal.

Among the positive psychological effects of working toward goals is that it provides you with purpose, meaning, direction and a sense of control in your life. As you strive toward your goals, you have something to focus on during your day, week, month and year.

A second positive psychological effect of pursuing goals is that it boosts your self esteem. One reason for this is that goals typically involve ‘mastery’ tasks which require the application of skill and talent to accomplish steps as you pursue your goal.

Each one of these ‘mini accomplishments’ provides your self esteem with a boost which is good for your mood. Accomplishing significant sub-goals as you pursue your long-term goal adds to your sense of self-efficacy—the belief that you can be successful—which also enhances your mood.

Like the 49ers, Chiefs and their counterparts on the other NFL teams who benefit from pursuing their football goals, you can benefit from pursuing goals regardless of whether they are focused on sports. Whether they are in work or school or in a leisure time activity, hobby, or interest, pursuing goals has a reliable positive effect on mood. For this reason, I encourage my clients who are not pursuing any goals to consider doing so.

Countdown to kickoff

I am writing this article on the eve of the big game. And although I look forward to an exciting matchup—and a 49ers victory—I am equally eager to see the lessons discussed in this article displayed by the players and coaches on both teams. I hope that as many viewers as possible in the consistently most-watched event of the year will apply these lessons to their own lives.

May you apply the lessons displayed by the players and coaches in the Super Bowl,

-Dr. Pat