Mental Toughness For Soccer Players
On every soccer team, there is always at least one player that stands out amongst the rest. It seems to come naturally to them. And everyone wants them there. They make the rest of the team flow better, move faster, and connect easier. And then there are times when normally good players are struggling. The game stops coming naturally to them. They don’t feel confident in their moves or decisions, and this cycle can start to really affect them and the rest of the team. So, when you really break it down, what is the key difference between these two players? Especially if both of these players are athletically and technically on the same level.
The player’s psychology. The best players make the best decisions the fastest. And players are going to make those faster and better decisions when they feel confident, good, and trusted.
On the other hand, it is very common to see a spiral of negativity. For example, you drop from the starting lineup, you are sat on the bench, your confidence drops, and this can be very hard for players to come back from. This is where strong psychology and proper coaching/mentorship can break you out of this cycle. Here are some tips on how to help your mental toughness to take you from good to great.
Strengthen your positive self-talk: Research studies have shown that soccer players who have practiced positive self-talk consistently often perform better. This means that scientifically when you’re speaking negatively to yourself, you will play worse. This is easier said than done. Speaking to yourself in a positive way can be challenging, especially when you aren’t seeing the results you want. Some tips are to focus on what you’re grateful for. Switching to a mindset of gratitude is the opposite of negativity. Visualize your process. Tell yourself you’re going to complete the next play with proper form and visualize the steps rather than the outcome.
Know your “why.”: When you are mentally tough, part of the reason is that you are strong in your “why.” There are many “whys” you can. It can be because you want to be the best you can be. It could be because you truly love soccer. It could be that you want to make your parents proud. But it needs to run deep. Without a “why,” you won’t have the internal driving motivation to develop true mental toughness; you’ll have an easier time wanting to quit when things get tough.
Stop being your harshest critic: In order to be mentally tough, you must remove self-judgment and switch your mindset to self-acceptance. This means that you are honest with yourself in acknowledging the level you are at, and you know that you still have value no matter what result you create.
To watch more of our conversation about the psychology of soccer players, watch the video below.
