
How Abby Wambach Stays Motivated
At Soccer Psychology Tips we get a ton of questions from coaches and parents on how to motivate their soccer players…
Motivation is a tricky concept and not easy to teach, though everyone would agree on its importance. Motivation is an intangible factor that can be seen with any high-level soccer player.
Motivation is the drive and desire to strive for a goal and improve on a daily basis.
It is making a commitment to put your full effort into practice day after day. Most coaches spend a lot of time and effort trying to motivate their team. Why? Because they know that success comes from a combination of both physical talent and desire.
The well-known U.S. hockey coach of the 1980 Olympics, Herbie Brooks said, “You have to go into the jungle, find the lion, and spit in his face…then shoot him. You guys are not good enough to win on talent alone…you have to want it.”
When soccer coaches and parents contact us, they want to know how to fuel their athlete’s desire to be the best.
For athletes of all sports, motivation comes from their dreams and goals to succeed.
In soccer, this often develops at a young age when an athlete realizes they have enough talent to be great. They dedicate themselves to their mission of being the best they can be.
Staying committed to soccer day after day is not an easy task, and even the best athletes can question their motivation.
Abby Wambach, forward on the U.S. women’s national team said that at one point she questioned whether or not to continue in soccer…
“When you’re young and you know that you have big potential but you have a far away to actually get to that potential, you question, is it really because I want to do it or is it because my family wants me to do?… I stopped thinking about what other people wanted for me, or what other people thought I could do with this talent, and I started to think a little bit more about myself,” Wambach said.
Abby says that you have to revamp your motivation on a daily basis in order to move towards your goals.
“Motivation is internal, and motivation has to happen on a continuum, you have to continually motivate yourself to go out and push yourself beyond your own limitations.”
Here are some other tips to help your team get motivated:
- Goal setting – unite your team by creating a common goal
- Workout routine – take your individual and team goals and commit to daily improvement
- Mental preparation – When you feel prepared, you feel confident. Anticipate some challenges your team may face and find solutions to overcoming them.
Watch this video below and see more on how Abby Wambach stays motivated in soccer:
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.

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?
“I have enjoyed and benefited from your emails over the past year or two. I have been a player, parent, and coach in soccer over the past 40 years. Thanks for the assistance with the mental game resources.”
~Kyle Congleton, Soccer Coach and Parent

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
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
Leave a Reply