How to Mentally Recover After a Loss
Recovering mentally after a loss is no easy task. Soccer players who are highly competitive and dedicated to their sport often have difficulty moving on after a disappointing defeat.
Many of the soccer players we work with at Peak Performance Sports, are too self-critical and lose confidence after losing a close game.
Our goal is not to convince you that losing is OK, but rather to help you grow from failure, stay confident, and learn from adversity.
The reality is that losing is a part of soccer.
If you won every game, tournament, and championship you ever played, our guess is that soccer would become pretty boring.
Fighting for the win, grinding it out, and giving every last ounce of energy is what soccer players live for! Sometimes you earn the big “W” and sometimes you don’t.
The most important thing is how you bounce back after a loss and move forward to the next game.
Every soccer player feels some disappointment and frustration after a loss, but the danger is when players get stuck in a negative cycle, causing them to lose more confidence (or what confidence they had), which leads to future poor performances.
The first option after a loss is to get upset, frustrated, and angry that you did not perform up to your ability and carry these negative feeling with you for hours or even weeks after competition. This option will not help you move on and can interfere with your motivation in soccer.
The second option is to learn how you can improve by objectively assessing your game, without negative emotion. This will help you grow your confidence and composure.
Sure you want to be real about how you can improve, but you also want to focus on what you did well in the game in order to carry that on to the next game. The best option is to learn, grow, and move on, which is the mindset of a champion.
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?
“Dr. Cohn, Michelle had the best weekend of soccer she has ever played. She was relaxed, did not get frustrated with herself or teammates, and never once ‘shut down.’ Numerous parents noticed a difference in her composure and attitude. Thanks again for EVERYTHING…Michelle is in a very good place right now!”
~Diana, Michelle’s Mother
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
I always tell my players that the most important in a game is to work hard and learn with their mistakes, keep your heads up and never stop fighting for what you believe.
Think about what you did wrong in the game, even when you won and try to get better on it. Think about what you did right and try to get it again in your next game.
We cannot win everything but we can learn with everything we do.
Thanks for your comment, great coaching philosophy!
I have always play soccer in high school and some college. Now that I’m an “adult” I only get to play on Sunday Adult leagues lol. However last week I had a league final game with my current Sunday team. Tied 2-2 regular time with a man down. Tied 1-1 on extra time but lost I penalties. Idk why but I keep feeling bad, all my teammates missed their penalty shot, I was 3rd to shoot and I also missed even though I felt confident at first but failed at the end. ;( hope I bounce back asap. Just sharing some experience ty.
We are in this league in our campus and we experienced a great loss of 4-0. I have tried so much to put it away but its not happening. Its eating me up. I just feel hopeless and useless. I am the coach and we have done lots of training with the players but still cant get it what happened. Kindly help