Playing Freely in Soccer
Do you or your soccer players need to “get out of your own way” when competing?
You might be thinking:
“What does it mean to get out of your own way?”
When an athlete is unable to get out of his own way, the mind is interfering with his physical talent. In a general sense, your mind sabotages your physical skills. The mental game is misfiring.
Most of the time, soccer players who can’t “get out of your own way” try way too hard, force their game, think too much, or over-analyze.
At Peak Performance Sports, we’ve conducted a massive amount of research with athletes on performing in the zone. These athletes talk about how they were able to perform without the mental handcuffs of over analysis…
Many athletes described an experience in which they felt like observers (of their own performance) allowing their performance to just happen, as if they were performing on autopilot.
Thus if you over think or over analyze your game, try to force every pass or shot, and second-guess your decisions, you are guilty of getting in your own way.
When you get out of your own way, you allow yourself to play freely without added pressure. You allow yourself to just do it and trust in your skills.
HOW TO GET OUT OF YOUR OWN WAY
1. Simplify Your Performance. Don’t over think your performance. Avoid filling your mind with too much information at once. Use only a few thoughts to help you perform.
2. Trust what you practice. The purpose of practice is to learn the skills and strategies to perform in competition. The purpose of competition is to let yourself play. Let go of the “how tos” (your technique or mechanics) and allow yourself to let it happen.
3. Go with the flow and don’t over-analyze your performance. Over analyzing your performance only makes matters worse. Be flexible with the situations that might happen during a game. Accept the fact that you will make mistakes. Mistakes are not ok, but you have to make them ok in your mind and move onto the next play.
4. Stop caring so much about results. A focus on results does not let you play in the moment. You have to care less and don’t attach significance to the outcome. This is what causes pressure for most soccer players. Think more about what you can do in the present moment and the results will come.
Check out our soccer specific mental training workbook and CD program to learn more about how soccer players can perform with confidence, focus, composure, and consistency.
Soccer Confidence: Mental Toughness Strategies for a Competitive Edge – Workbook and CD Program
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 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?
“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
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