Secrets to Soccer Training: Mental Toughness in Soccer
Mental toughness in soccer can be defined as the ability of players to remain determined and committed to achieving training objectives. Mental toughness can be inborn or developed at the tender age by the environment in which a soccer player was brought up. Apart from the physical talent endowment by soccer players, dealing with psychological pressure is a major factor of success in playing soccer.
As one of the secrets to soccer training, mental toughness in soccer considers the following factors:
- Psychological preparedness of players before a game.
- How to deal with stress of competition within the team and from other teams.
- The ability of the players to quickly recover from errors and failures.
- How the players should tackle tough situations and adjust to each other as well as game changes.
Achieving mental toughness is a psychological process and players are obliged to adhere to certain training practices to ensure they are mentally tough enough for competition. The next question asked then is how can a soccer player achieve mental toughness?
Motivation:
Self motivation is one of the main determinants of mental toughness. Soccer players should be ready to push themselves to the brink in training sessions. This may involve setting personal goals that do not contradict with team goals and fully pursuing them even under minimal encouragement. Players should be self-motivated in achieving training targets which will build up on their mental toughness and eventually reflect on good performances in competitions.
Finding a stable zone:
Finding the correct zone in which players can perform optimally even under high pressure conditions is a major component of mental toughness. Achieving a reduced brain wave activity involves concentrating on training activities and the game plan while avoiding any distractions puts the players in a sufficient state of mental toughness.
Preparation:
Preparedness is equally important in achieving mental toughness. Players need to be disciplined in attending and participating in all training sessions. This way, they will be well prepared and ready for the big day of competition both physically and mentally. Normally, it is hard to be prepared for each and every eventuality but players should be able to anticipate any challenges and have remedial actions in mind to deal with those problems. Some of the challenges in soccer may involve having to play out of position, receiving a yellow card warning and chasing a game after conceeding a goal.
Getting Uncomfortable:
in order for players to realize progression in their game, they must set out to push their training routines to the limits. This approach to soccer training will not only improve players’ problem solving skills but will also enhance their creativity in thinking which will boost the mental toughness of the players.
Visualize:
Before even stepping on the training ground a soccer player should visualize and imagine how they would play around with the ball. For instance, a striker should imagine getting round defenders and scoring goals. This way the player will have it done in their minds and will only be required to redo it with the physical body. Doing this puts the player in a tough mental state.
Secrets to Soccer Training: Mental Toughness in Soccer
written by: shilachilu