Mental Focus for Soccer

“How do I stop being so nervous before a big soccer game?”

This is a common and sometimes frustrating issue experienced by even the most talented of soccer players. But what you might not understand is that being nervous is actually a good thing.

Yup, that’s right! It means that you care about what you're about to do, and that’s definitely something to be proud of. You may not realize it, but it’s completely natural to feel nervous.

But you still might find it hard to play under the kind of big-game pressure that causes nervousness. The key to overcoming this is to focus on what you can control and not on what you can’t. Don’t burden yourself with worries like, “What if this happens?” or “What if this player is playing?” or “What if so and so is watching?” Don’t worry about that stuff! Just focus on playing the game with patience and simplicity. You love playing soccer, don’t you? Then, what’s there to worry about? Just play the game and have fun doing it.

Granted, all that sounds easier said than done, right? Don’t worry. If you have pre-game jitters, then read on and discover how you can relax yourself.

Here are some quick points to keep in mind:

• be cheeky (take chances in the attacking third - try that back heel)
• know where you want to play the ball before you get it
• play simple (pass and move)
• work hard (hustle)
• ask for the ball (communicate)
• make runs
• recognize where you are on the field
• have fun
• forget your mistakes and make up for them with hustle
• keep your head up
• play until the final whistle
• think positive--don't be hard on yourself