July 16, 2024
There are several physical skills you develop while growing as a player. All of the technical qualities like dribbling, passing, and shooting are introduced at younger levels and are cultivated with countless hours in backyards and on practice fields. So there’s no doubt that honing these skills makes for a talented player, but the physical side to the game only accounts for one part of what you’ll need to succeed.
The other part you’ll need is mental and emotional stability. Having these allows you to operate in a mindset of making the next best play, and this is something that every player can improve on.
Learning how to stay even-keeled in the face of struggles and triumphs fosters a next-play mentality that will take you much further than dwelling on past outcomes which hinder present and future actions.
Take it from the pros: the game is 90% mental and 10% physical. The world’s top athletes practice strengthening their minds as well as their bodies — acknowledging the connection between the two. The mental side of the game is essential for achieving elite performance and can be just as challenging if not more than the physical side. Mental toughness, which is a combination of confidence, resiliency, and self-discipline, is a critical factor in a player's success and building it involves developing several key mental attributes and skills:
1. Visualization: Imagine yourself making precise passes, scoring goals, and executing skills and strategies flawlessly.
2. Goal Setting: Setting both short-term and long-term goals as a player helps provide direction and motivation on and off the field.
3. Positive Self-Talk: The way you speak to yourself significantly impacts your mindset. Be your biggest cheerleader.
4. Mindfulness: Practicing mindfulness involves staying present and fully engaged in the moment.
5. Adopting a Growth Mindset: Embrace challenges as opportunities to grow rather than obstacles.
6. Accepting Anxiety and Jitters as Normal: Recognize that feeling nervous before a game is natural and can even enhance performance.
7. Getting Your First Touch on the Ball Quickly: Engaging with the ball early in the game helps settle nerves and establishes a connection with the match.
8. Controlling the Controllable: Concentrate on aspects of the game that you can control, such as the shots you take, passes you make, positioning, and effort. Avoid getting distracted by external factors like the weather, opposing players, or referees, which are all beyond your control.
Adopt a mindset where you quickly move on from setbacks and triumphs and focus on the next opportunity at hand. The game is fast-paced and constantly changing, so dwelling on errors or successes can hinder your performance by taking you out of the present moment. Learn from each play quickly, and be ready for the next one.
If you come up short, learn from it, let it go, and do your best the next time. If you succeed, be grateful and continue seeking ways to further improve. Staying in the neutral zone — being neither too high nor too low — helps you remain focused, adaptable, and consistent.
By integrating these mental training skills and strategies, you can start to build a strong foundational mindset that supports your physical abilities and leads to greater success on and off the field.
Are you looking to become a more well-rounded player?
The Hammer it Home Series is where you can learn more about the beautiful game and all that surrounds it — from a coach’s perspective.
