Overcoming Comfort Zones
Many soccer players and soccer teams we work with hold themselves back with a comfort zone.
What is a comfort zone in soccer?
A comfort zone is a mental barrier that is based on what you (or your team) thinks you are capable of achieving or what you expect to achieve.
Comfort zones become a problem whenever a soccer player or team is playing better than expected or is in uncharted territory when competing.
Comfort zones are usually developed from expectations based on past experience.
For example, a soccer team may believe they can or cannot beat a certain team based on past seasons. One of our tasks as a mental game coach is to teach players and teams how to break free of comfort zones so they do not set limits on their performance.
How Do You Know If a Comfort Zone is Affecting Your Performance?
- You protect a lead based on expectations
- You play defensively after playing offensively
- You suddenly start focusing on not making mistakes
- You lose focus when in the lead
- You start making silly errors that have not been made all day
- You lose confidence when playing better than expected or beyond you perceived ability
A common example in soccer is when you go up two goals on a team you have never beaten. You start to protect the lead and begin to hang back on defense, stop taking risks, and lose offensive momentum. Before you know it, your team is under so much pressure and can quickly lose momentum and the lead.
Our experience is that soccer players with specific performance expectations become tentative and overly focused on results when they are playing beyond these set limits.
The best option is to play in the moment, avoid setting limits on your performance, and continue to press forward when reaching new heights.
If this options fails and you begin to focus on how well you are performing or not losing the lead your team has, you should default to Plan B. Plan B is to accept that you are playing well and ride the wave of momentum.
You need to refocus in order to take your mind off of results and back to what you need to do in the moment to continue to perform.
If you experience comfort zones or other mental barriers to peak performance, contact us today to start your 1 on 1 soccer specific mental game coaching program.
Also, if you haven’t already, download our free ebook titled “7 Costly Mental Game Mistakes that Block Soccer Players’ Success”
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?
“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
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 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
It definitely becomes an issue when dealing with a highly competitive team. Players walk onto the field half-defeated because they don’t think they have what it takes to win. Instead of stepping up and making that other team work for it, they accept the lose before it’s even happened!