If I had been a sports reporter attending the post game press conference with New York Giants Head Coach Tom Coughlin last Monday night I would have raised my hand and asked:

Me: “Coach, do you believe it’s true that what takes place away from the football field affects what takes place on the football field?”
Coach: “Well, yes, I believe that.”
Me: “Then why aren’t you talking about the possibility that Dave Wilson may have fumbled twice during your Monday Night Football game because he has some personal issues that are affecting his ability to focus?”
Coach: “Well, I, er..ah…you make a good point.”

Most NFL head coaches and team owners don’t like to hear that type of talk since many of them believe that if you pay an athlete what Dave Wilson is being paid that he darn well ought to be able to hold onto the football and not fumble it. But NFL football players are human beings first and then athletic performers. And they, just like us other mortal beings, often encounter personal problems and issues in their lives that must be dealt with. If not, their issues and problems can negatively affect performance. These could be issues with girlfriends, wives, teammates, coaches, and even financial. But if they keep them bottled-up it’s going to show up in fumbles, dropped passes, missed blocks, missed tackles, and if you’re a quarterback, throwing interceptions.

That’s why coaches should put into place programs that become vehicles for teams to become support groups (offensive, defensive, special teams) allowing players to share their personal issues with their teammates in a controlled environment. This not only enhances the players’ ability to focus and perform at a higher level, but also has a positive effect on team chemistry and team bonding.