Take a look at the modern game of Soccer today. There is absolutely no question that soccer is an intensely physical sport. Players of the modern game are so advance in ball skills and knowledge of the tactics and strategies, but they also have tremendous endurance, great footwork and superior physical strength. Without discipline and consistent and proper training, a child/player can never emulate the dizzy heights of a professional footballer.
Soccer today reminds me of a strategic game of chess, where the opposing coach strategizes and plans to defeat their enemy with the use of their machine like players. The chess pieces or should i say the super fit players are physically strong and can sometimes seem like super heroes. The amount of physical training these players complete would make the fittest person cry. Unfortunately, most soccer players playing the game today only concentrate on their fitness and physical attributes, neglecting one of the most important aspects of the game, the “Mental game”.
The majority of players make the critical mistake in assuming that all you need to play the game is fitness and strength. At the end of the day, if you have a good coach the physical requirements will be met through the coaches training sessions. To assume that soccer is just about kicking, trapping, tackling or marking your man would be a huge mistake. A great soccer player must be able to use his head and I’m not talking about headers.
Have you ever wondered how some champions of the game miss easy goals. They seem to do the impossible and then when it comes to put the ball in the back of the net, they miss. What happens to the superstars in the world cup that step up to take penalties and miss? Do they miss because they haven’t practiced enough or lack the required skill? I don’t think so, do you? When you are intimidated or psyched out you cannot perform at your optimum levels. Players under extreme pressures or players that are insecure and have lost their confidence all of a sudden find themselves struggling to perform the easiest of tasks. Have you experienced this, or has your child experienced this? There is nothing to be ashamed of the greatest players in the world have succumbed to this psychological problem.
The great players of the world have acquired their physical strengths, skills, conditioning and technical awareness through commitment, desire and hunger to be the best. But they also discover the importance of using their “head” also known as the psychological dimension. If you have ever lost when you should have won, if you’ve choked, missed a penalty or got totally outplayed by your opponent you know exactly what I’m talking about. The mind starts to create negativity which then depletes your confidence levels. Simply passing the ball becomes a mission and you start to shy away from the ball during matches. You become a spectator that is allowed onto the ground.
To become a champion or to be successful in soccer (applies to life as well) you must
- systematically train this mental side of the game (psychological dimension)
- you must be able to handle pressure
- you must be able to handle competitive pressures
- concentrate on the game and block out all distractions
- have the ability to bounce back quickly when you make mistakes, everybody makes mistakes, try and try again
- develop confidence
- avoid and resist intimidation, challenge not only your opponent but yourself. Grit your teeth and take up the challenge even if your opponent is bigger and stronger
- and most importantly, learn to think like a winner, a CHAMPION.
If you want to separate yourself from the pack and gain that competitive edge, you need to start today and create a mindset that enforces that you are a champion, you are the best. Don’t get side tracked, even when things go badly, smile and bounce back quickly with your head held high. I pity the opponent that comes up against this mentality, do you?
Mental toughness will lift your level of soccer to new levels, but it will also lift your life to new levels. So what are you waiting for? If you leave the mental side of your game to chance, all the training in the world by the best coaches isn’t going to help you. To be a complete soccer player you must have balance in your training. When is the last time you trained your inner game? If you want success on the football pitch, you need to develop the mind of a champion. All it takes is a little effort, both on and off the pitch. Its a small price to pay to become the best soccer player you can be, don’t you think?
Even if your not involved in the game yourself, your child should be taught these basic rules and allowed to express himself on the pitch with all the confidence in the world. Strength, speed, skill, conditioning and development will come with time, but will the confidence? Protect your child from the negative forces and continue to train him as if he is the greatest player on earth. Who knows, one day he might.
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