Developing a Strong Level of Confidence
Do you ever wonder if it is possible to have higher confidence or have a steady level of confidence?
Yes, confidence does go up and down for many soccer players during their athletic career and many things can affect confidence from day to day…
But honestly you don’t want to ride the confidence roller-coaster. When you do, the small things can make your confidence elusive.
A strong and stable level of confidence can boost your performance in soccer and help with other mental game challenges as well.
Not only does confidence open the door to peak performance, it helps you battle nerves, cope with mistakes, and trust in your skills.
I interviewed mental coach Dr. Robert Winters about his take on confidence and preparation…
Winters specializes in performance enhancement and has worked with many professional, elite and NCAA athletes.
Winters’ philosophy is based on self-belief and the willingness to work, train and prepare for what you want.
COHN: “What have you gleaned over the years that great performers, great athletes have from a mental game perspective?”
WINTERS: “The great athletes have an inner drive for the pursuit of excellence. They don’t really compare themselves to anyone else; they compare themselves to their own standards of excellence… The other thing I find that they do is they have a deep-rooted belief in themselves.”
Winters understands that confidence is not the sole factor responsible for peak performance. Winters emphasizes that athletes must put in the work to succeed. You can have confidence without the preparation and hard work.
WINTERS: “Before you find yourself in the winner’s circle, you have to have the will to prepare, the will to train, the will to persevere, even when you don’t really want to train, and you have to have the will to have compliance that you’re going to do the things that you said to yourself that you’re going to do. Those are the cornerstones for greatness.”
“In saying that, that’s really great news for all of our athletes because the thing that separates the people who are really, really good and the people that are just mediocre, is that the people who become really, really good do the things that the people who are mediocre don’t want to do.”
“Most people don’t want to put in the time, the work, the sweat ethic to earn the right to feel confident.”
I summarized Winters’ notions regarding confidence and preparation.
COHN: “So belief without the will to win, the will to prepare and the compliance that you talk about, that’s not going to cut it. Likewise, you can have the will to prepare and the perseverance, but if you don’t have the belief then that’s not going to cut it… So, they go hand in hand.”
Try these tips to boost your athletic confidence:
- Tip #1: Excellence in soccer comes from the will to prepare and train coupled with high, stable confidence. And having stable confidence comes from belief in your abilities, not just from training.
- Tip #2: Commit to the plan, work the plan and go the extra mile when training for games. Focused preparation will dramatically improve your athletic confidence.
Boost your confidence in soccer today with our Soccer Confidence 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?
“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
it is great to read about this confidence article, but, too many coaches do not know how to instill it in a player…..even tho, the player may be of the highest level…..how do they learn to do it?