Even under intense pressure with the FIFA world cup 2022 schedule already out, soccer players must maintain composure and emotional control to remain focused and perform at their best.
Pressure in soccer can come from the fans, the coach, the player’s family, or the player’s expectations of him/herself. Players at the pinnacle of their sport also suffer media pressure.
Usually, soccer is about physical, tactical, and technical ability, but the mental aspect is frequently overlooked. Here is how the top soccer players handle anxiety:
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Incorporate Individual Training To Boost Confidence
If you have confidence in yourself and your abilities, it will be simpler for you to maintain your composure in high-pressure situations. You can increase your confidence by preparing effectively, which entails training and improving your talents outside team practice. Set goals, make a plan, and then get to work.
Here is where you assert your independence and assume responsibility for your development. If you want to improve your ability to remain calm under pressure, you must have more confidence in your game. This indicates that you need to practice independently more.
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Maintain a Balance Between Practice and Play
Most players devote varying degrees of attention and concentration to their games. Consider getting your practice more organized. Utilize strategies to achieve your aims and objectives. Set a target for yourself after training, and don’t leave the field until you’ve completed it.
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Avoid Comparing Yourself to Others
That will diminish your happiness. Consider your skills and flaws and work to improve them. Unless you use comparison to push yourself to improve, it almost always leaves you feeling insufficient. This can hinder your mental toughness in soccer and cause you to feel additional pressure since you believe “you’re not good enough.”
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Avoid Too Many Expectations
What do you believe is your capability at the moment? You may occasionally think you are better than you are, and you may not be able to live up to that expectation. This increases the pressure. You cannot alter the expectations of others; thus, it is unfair for them to cause you tension.
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Consider Your Root Source of Stress
If you are concerned about the outcome of a game, it is likely necessary for you. You have the opportunity to transform your enthusiasm into joy rather than dread. Accept it! Before each match, consider why you enjoy the sport.
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Self Motivation Is Important
Try concentrating on the task instead of how difficult it is or how much pressure you are under. When anxious, you are more prone to think negatively. It is simple for negative thoughts such as “I can’t” or “Simply stop” to dominate. During a challenging game, use phrases such as “you’ve got this,” “keep going,” “remain strong,” “breathe,” etc., to calm yourself down.
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Breathe and Take Control
If your emotions or anxiety begin to build, you can rapidly regain control by focusing on your breathing. This can be used before or during a game whenever there is a break in play and two seconds to reset.
Breathwork helps you calm down, get back on track, and regain control by placing you in charge of something you would not typically be in charge of (your breathing).
For example, while waiting for someone to set up for a set piece or retrieve the ball for a throw-in, try taking a deep breath in and then a deep breath out. And don’t simply inhale; feel it. If you do this frequently enough, your body and mind will remember that you have power over your thoughts.
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Know Why You Are Doing This
Realizing it is a simple concept is the initial step in learning to play with nerve strength. It all depends on how you conduct yourself. It is just a matter of exercising control over one’s ideas, emotions, and actions.
This may appear simple, but it is crucial. Other sports, including soccer, are not about life and death. You play because it is enjoyable and significant to you. Permit yourself to play, compete, and position yourself to do something positive.
I believe this shrewd move is the beginning of playing pressure soccer. We make it possible for everyone to play under pressure by de-emphasizing nerve strength and asserting that anyone is capable of it.
Conclusion
There will be pressure in soccer, but that doesn’t mean you should be afraid of it.
This mentality makes it less probable for tension to build up in your muscles. A solid stance also aids in stabilizing the body. It demonstrates that you believe in yourself despite difficult circumstances. It proves that you are willing to play freely and without fear.