How Sports Psychology Helped Crystal Palace
Fear is a soccer player’s toughest opponent…
Fear of losing, being judged, criticized, making mistakes, getting injured or losing paralyze soccer players.
What do you do to overcome these fears?
“Don’t be afraid” is too simplistic and doesn’t help…
In fact, a little tension is normal and, at times, productive to motivate a play to act or push them to perform at a higher level.
So how in the world can you deal with fear, if at all?
When you’re tight or afraid to make mistakes, for example, you can’t let it happen and get into the flow of the game. You judge your game and think too much about outcomes.
Your primary goal is to trust your athletic ability when you play.
Most result-oriented thinking leads to anxiety and playing scared…
A present-moment focus is a matter of seeing the field and reacting. Reacting in the game is the best way to not over think.
What’s the opposite of reacting?
Over thinking, over analyzing, and over controlling your skills.
Sam Allardyce, soccer manager of Crystal Palace has seen his team drop to 19th in the Premier League with a stretch of nine losses in 12 home games.
To help his team manage fear [or stage fright as he has called it] and play more freely, Allardyce brought in a sports psychologist to work with his team.
ALLARDYCE: “I just feel we have to try to help the lads to focus mentally. If we can do that then they will perform better. You play at this level and your mind has to work in a very efficient way. At the moment with the bit of fear we have at home, they’re losing their concentration when they should be focused.”
Allardyce is a firm believer and advocate for the use of psychology in soccer. In fact, Allardyce has worked with sport psychologists himself to help him become a better coach.
ALLARDYCE: “I have sat down with three or four [sport psychologists] personally that have worked with me and made me a better manager. Made me cope better and helped me make better decisions so I have just given the lads the opportunity to experience the same and see if it helps them like it has helped me… A sports psychologist is like a first team coach or assistant manager. It is there to promote positivity and find your best way of delivering on the field.”
Tip for Overcoming Fear
“Just relax, don’t stress” is not the answer for fear or anxiety. How do you relax?
Step one is to know what makes you anxious during a game. Are you afraid of making mistakes and disappointing teammates, for example?
Step two is to stop projecting what will happen if you make mistake–this is the source of your anxiety.
Keep your thinking and the game simple. Focus on what you have to do one touch at a time!
Focus on performing freely and trusting your skills from practice.
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We look forward to helping you improve your mental toughness!
What are our mental coaching students saying?
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