Returning to Play After Injury
Soccer injuries can lead to a host of challenging problems for players.
Many soccer players can deal with the physical pain from injuries, but the mental and emotional challenges can last long after the injury is healed.
If you don’t meet these challenges head on, you will hold yourself back from playing at your peak.
One injured soccer player from our Mental Game of Soccer Survey expressed several concerns regarding her injury.
“How can you build mental toughness and self-confidence after coming back from an injury to a coach that no longer believes in you? Also, how can you build up motivation to do extra work so you can perform better?”
Your injury has multi-layered challenges:
1. How to confidently return to competition after an injury.
2. How to deal with a coach who no longer believes in you.
3. How to build motivation to improve performance on the pitch.
Your injury scenario most likely unfolds as follows: You have played significant minutes for your team and were playing at a high level.
Unfortunately, a serious injury causes you to miss significant time away from practices and games. Rehab is tough but not as difficult as watching your teammate replace you.
As your replacement succeeds, you become more and more fearful that you will not regain your previous role on the team. Even when you return to practice, your coach doesn’t seem to give you the same amount of attention and feedback.
You feel like your coach has lost faith in you which is a blow to your confidence. You want to push harder in practice and work on increasing your speed and agility, but you are afraid you may reinjure yourself.
Even if you do extra work, you wonder if it would even matter since your coach shows little interest in you anymore.
When faced with these challenging circumstances, you can either see the situation as unfair or see the situation as an opportunity to push forward and prove something to yourself.
Rising to the challenge is a characteristic of mentally tough athletes.
Let’s get right into the solution… Being mentally tough is a matter of taking action and being proactive. One positive step is to ask your coach, “What can I do to contribute to the team?”
This question opens up a dialogue with the coach and gives you feedback as to what you can do to better your game.
Taking initiative is taking personal responsibility for the further development of your game.
When you take positive steps you build confidence, increase motivation and feel empowered.
Dealing with Returning to Competition After Injury
“How can I best help the team?” Asking your coach is the first step in a successful return to competition. The second step is to take your coach’s feedback and put it into action.
Identify 1-3 steps you can take to put your coach’s feedback into action. At the end of the week, discuss your progress with your coach.
Keep in mind that it’s normal to lose some confidence when you return and wonder if your game will return to the same level as before your injury.
Be patient with your game and confidence to return to normal when you start back.
Discover Mental Game Secrets to Soccer Confidence!
Does your confidence seem to disappear when you go from practice to games?
Do you get nervous and anxious in big games or when under a ton of pressure?
Do you get so frustrated after making a bad pass that your confidence sinks?
If you are ready to improve your mental toughens and perform with ultimate self-confidence in games, check out our program:
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.
Learn the top eight mental game lessons for soccer players to boost your mental game and improve consistency. You’ll learn how to mentally prepare for games to performing under pressure to building unstoppable confidence!
Soccer Confidence: Mental Toughness Strategies For a Competitive Edge
What are our mental game program customers saying?
With the mental tools my soccer
mental training program has given 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
“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
Boost Your Self-Confidence And Focus With Expert Mental Game Coaching!
If you’re a top performer during practice but find yourself under-performing in competition, the most likely culprit holding you back is your mental game. In fact, many athletes struggle with the same problem….
Master mental game coach Dr. Patrick Cohn can help you overcome your mental game issues with personal coaching.
Meet with us via Skype, phone, FaceTime, or GoTo Meeting. With today’s video technology, we are able to connect with athletes and coaches all over the globe.
Mental toughness coaching helps serious athletes like you to uncover the beliefs and attitudes that keep you from performing to your potential. You’ll learn mental game strategies to perform at your peak more often, overcoming performance plateaus and lack of consistency
Call us toll free at 888-742-7225 or contact us for more information about the different coaching programs we offer!
What are our mental coaching students 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
“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
“Adam is truly one of your success
stories. We purchased the CD program for him last year around this time.
He is a soccer goalie and needed more confidence. The change was
dramatic and he still goes through the exercises before a big game.”
~Stella Prevost
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