Players Who Feel Intimidated
Do you or your players feel intimidated by other competitors?
Soccer players often compare their skill to other players. They wonder if other players are faster, stronger, or more skilled.
If you compare yourself to your opponents, you’ll likely feel intimidated and lose confidence.
Most of the time, you’ll focus only on the strengths of other players, and look past their weaknesses.
This puts your competitors on a pedestal and makes you feel inferior. When you’re focused on the strengths of your competitors, it’s nearly impossible to feel confident and focused.
Some players do try to intimidate their competition intentionally because they think it gives them a mental edge or feel they need to this to win.
For example, one soccer player we worked with, would feel intimidated by the other team if they had lost to them before. This prevented him from taking players on or making through passes.
Here’s why making comparisons hurts your confidence and performance in soccer:
When you make comparisons to other players, you’re focusing on what makes your competitors better. This causes you to think about what skills you’re lacking. You’re focused on your weaknesses, and the reasons you won’t be successful on the field. With this mindset, you’ll lose confidence and be held back from playing up to your ability.
What’s the mental toughness solution to this confidence destroyer in soccer?
The first step is to recognize when you tend to compare your skills to other soccer players. Does it happen before big games? Do you make comparisons at tryouts?
Be aware when you or your players:
- Focus on your competitors during the warmup.
- Have doubts about playing well against a certain team.
- Are intimidated by specific players.
- Feel inferior to the competition and make comparisons to others.
The second step is to focus on the strengths you have in soccer.
Sounds simple, right? we know it’s not that simple. Start by making a list of your strengths in soccer. Focus on what you do well on defense, offense, and 1v1 attacking, for example. Review this list before games and tryouts.
Don’t put other soccer players on a pedestal. It’s the number one way to psych yourself out and lose confidence in soccer.
Also, think about competing to the best of your ability instead of competing against other soccer players who look good, or who have big names, or who intimidate you.
Comparing yourself to others hurts your confidence and success in soccer.
It intimidates you. Instead, focus on your own strengths and talents and on your performance.
We just released an elite mental training workbook and CD program to help you perform with confidence, focus, composure, and intensity. It’s called “Soccer Confidence: Mental Toughness Strategies for a Competitive Edge.”
A soccer specific mental training workbook and CD program designed to teach soccer players how to perform with confidence, composure, and focus in training and competition. This program is also great for coaches and parents who want to learn how help their players be mentally tough on and off the field. The program includes a workbook and 4 CD’s that will give players the tools they need to take their game to the next level. In addition, the program comes with 5 free bonus programs.
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
“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?
“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
“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?
“Jaki is amazingly talented. She has a pretty cool way of guiding you to find those issues that are holding you back in your game. Through some pretty clever questions she’s been guiding me to discover the real issues behind my doubts and lack of confidence. With the tools she’s been giving me, I can say with full confidence I am on my way of signing a better professional contract.”
~Lucas Gonzales, Professional Soccer Player in Australia
“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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