The Benefits of Soccer Psychology For Parents
In our work with athletes at Peak Performance Sports we teach mental training strategies to soccer players, coaches, or teams. However, an important support group to players is often left out of mental game training — sports parents! Parents play a very important role in the development of a positive and strong mental game for soccer players.
Parents who are knowledgeable about “mental game” strategies can better support their athlete’s development and confidence. For example, without a better understanding of the mental game of soccer, parents are at risk of placing high expectations on their athletes that can be perceived as extra pressure for athletes. This is often detrimental to success.
Parents can, without even knowing it, interfere with or hold back the mental game development of an athlete. As a soccer parent, even though you have the best intentions and are trying to be helpful, you might be undermining your athlete’s confidence.
From our experience, we find that parents’ expectations for athlete’s can be perceived as pressure.
As a parent, it is easy to impose your own high expectations for success on your athlete. Your intention is likely to boost your children’s confidence, though many times, the opposite occurs when these become expectations for athletes.
At SoccerPsychologyTips.com, we will help both parents and athletes understand the effects of high or strict expectations on athletes and how this may limit performance.
Confidence is key for soccer players to feel relaxed, play with intensity, and perform consistently.
In comparison, expectations leave soccer athletes feeling frustrated when they are not performing up to their self-imposed ideals. Having high confidence, void of judgmental expectations, is imperative for success.
When working with parents, we teach them the difference between confidence and expectations. We help them identify expectations that hurt their soccer athlete’s success — and sometimes hinder their confidence.
Even though you’re trying to be helpful and boost kids’ confidence, you might be saying things to your soccer athlete that can be interpreted as an expectation.
These pressures and expectations take an athlete’s focus off of the moment and away from what will help them perform. A parent, with good intentions, may say to their soccer athlete, “You should be able to score two goals today – you did it last time you played this team!”
This may sound like a positive thing to say to give your soccer player confidence, right?
However, we have a different take on this. Your soccer athlete may take these kinds of statements in a way you didn’t intend. Often times, your athlete will feel pressure to score two goals, meet your expectation, and avoid letting you down.
For some parents, this may be an adjustment and may be different from what you have been taught about positive expectations. By removing these expectations your athlete will be able to focus fully on each play, rather than the end result (scoring two goals). We offer here just one example of how soccer parents need to understand soccer psychology. There are many other ways you can help your athlete succeed with a positive mental game.
Download our free e-book, “7 Mental Game Challenges that Block Soccer Player’s Success”, and learn how to overcome other mental game barriers soccer players face.
Do You Make Any of These ‘Costly’ Mental Game Mistakes?
Download our FREE soccer psychology report and discover if you make any of these ‘costly’ mental game mistakes that can block your success.
You’ll discover:
- How your soccer mind can be your best or worst asset on the field.
- How frustration and dwelling are your worst enemy.
- If you are using your soccer mindset effectively before games.
- Learn the important mental game of soccer skills you need to master to boost your confidence and performance.
7 ‘Costly’ Mental Game Mistakes That Block Soccer Players’ Success
What are soccer psychology subscribers saying?
“We try and spend 20 to 30 minutes a day working on the mental aspects of the game. My daughter is really enjoying it and feels it has helped and I know it has worked for her mother and I. I think you need to open a branch up here in Detroit, Michigan because there are a lot of parents and kids up here that need this information. Keep up the good work!”
~Scott Burgess, Soccer Parent
Learn Mental Game Secrets to Soccer Confidence!
Does your confidence seem to disappear when you go from practice to games and don’t know why? Do you get nervous and anxious in big games or when you are under a ton of pressure? Do you get so frustrated when you make a bad pass which causes your confidence to sink?
Check out Soccer Confidence: Mental Toughness Strategies For a Competitive Edge
Learn proven strategies to improve focus, composure and confidence so you can perform at your peak in games!
Players: Get the mental edge by learning how to take control of your confidence, mentally prepare for games and perform with composure under pressure.
Trainers: Learn how to give your students the mental game advantage.
Coaches: Boost your team’s confidence using simple proven mental strategies.
Parents: Help boost your soccer player’s confidence. Don’t let their mind hold them back any longer.
Soccer Confidence: Mental Toughness Strategies For a Competitive Edge
What are soccer confidence customers saying?
“Our son plays academy level soccer. Jaki taught him how to focus on goals for each game and practice and understand that mistakes are necessary to grow as a player, and helped his perfectionism. We saw a noticeable difference within one month with improvement each month thereafter. He was more confident, happy, and was having fun again at soccer.”
~Linda, Ryan’s Mother
Mental Game Coaching for Soccer Players
Master mental game coach Dr. Patrick Cohn can help you overcome your mental game issues with personal coaching.
You can work with Dr. Patrick Cohn himself in Orlando, Florida or via Skype, FaceTime, or telephone. Call us toll free at 888-742-7225 or contact us for more information about the different coaching programs we offer!
We look forward to helping you improve your mental toughness!
What are our mental coaching students saying?
“Our son plays academy level soccer. Jaki taught him how to focus on mini goals for each game and practice, how to lower his expectations and understand that mistakes are necessary to grow as a player, and helped his perfectionism. We saw a noticeable difference within one month with improvement each month thereafter. He was more confident, happy, and was having fun again at soccer. The confidence has helped him off the field as well to not have to be perfect in everything that he attempts. We can’t say enough about how grateful we are for Jaki!”
~Linda Black, Soccer Mom
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