What Mentality Do You Have On The Field?
What mentality do you arm yourself with when playing against naturally gifted soccer players?
When you play with more talented teammates or against skilled opponents, do you play with confidence or are you overwhelmed by nerves?
Some soccer players become so anxious playing against tougher competition that their performance drops off dramatically.
The soccer players feel helpless because they assume talent always wins. It is as if these players think, “I will never be as good as they are, so why try.”
But what if “talent” worked at a bare minimum and you dedicated yourself to vigorous, focused, committed, stouthearted effort… would that greatly increase your chances to succeed?
If you can work hard, put in the effort, comprehensively prepare and go for it in games, you can often beat those with talent who don’t put in the work.
B.J. Snow was hired as the U-17 Women’s National Team coach in 2013 and immediately wanted to develop a yeoman-like work mentality.
Snow, the former head coach of the UCLA Bruins women’s soccer team, set the tone for how he wants his team to train and the need to work hard.
Strong Mindset Against Strong Competition
SNOW: “We want the girls to know how to behave and certainly start to instill some of the philosophies about how we want to play, but we also want to put together a program for all of the girls so when they leave camp they are prepared to work on their own individual development.”
Former All-American and collegiate coach April Kater was hired with Snow as the Head Development Coach for the U.S. Youth Women’s National Teams in 2013.
Kater believes you may not be able to out-talent someone but you can definitely outwork your competitors. From her days as an elite soccer player, Kater has learned the value of hard work.
Kater: “Over my career, I really came to appreciate how much hard work pays off. I wasn’t naturally gifted athletically, but my will and work rate allowed me to compete with some of the best in the country. The experiences I had through U.S. Soccer camps and ODP allowed me to pave a path in playing and coaching and that hard work translates into other areas of your life. Obviously, we will be bringing in top players in the country who are very talented, but it’s the differences in mentality, in passion and work rate that can separate them at this level.”
Snow and Kater have instilled the importance of hard work and its impact on confidence as the U-17 Women’s National Soccer Team continues its preparation for World Cup qualifying matches.
Snow and Kater know that talent starts the road to a successful World Cup showing but it is hard work that actually wins the Cup.
Tip for Outworking your Competition:
Pick a word to define the level of effort you want to put forth as an athlete: relentless, outwork, out-learn, or stubborn. Identify what this word means to you…
What would a “relentless” soccer player do in training and competition?
Use this word as a guiding and motivating force when you practice and compete. Write the word on your hand, cleats, wristband or somewhere to trigger that competitive mindset.
Work… work hard… work focused… then work some more!
Check Out Our Video of The Week, Mental Toughness Training in Sports
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