How To Be A Mental Warrior

Watch the video. Use the info below to refresh your memory.

Here are clear, actionable steps you can take to become mentally stronger and this will help you to deal with adversity, both on and off the field.

STEP 1 – MENTALITY MATTERS

Treat every training session like it’s the World Cup final from a mental perspective. If you and your teammates can make training extremely competitive, when game time comes you won’t be nervous or fearful because it won’t be anything that you haven’t already worked on. It will be routine and feel almost easy. Being mentally focused and working hard in training eliminates fear and nerves.

STEP 2 – FULL BENEFIT

Get full benefit from difficult situations. Navy seals have a saying when they are in very tough situations, “full benefit.” It’s an instant change in mindset. Losing a game 2-0? Player sent off so you’re up against it? Cold and pouring rain? “Full benefit.” Every adversity or tough situation is an opportunity for growth, both for you individually and for your team as a group. The next time you face something difficult, welcome it. Work through the process and learn the lessons. Reap the full benefit.

STEP 3 – MENTAL REHEARSAL

Get used to mental rehearsal. Alongside physical training, you should use mental rehearsal regularly. This involves visualizing yourself going through the motions of playing soccer. Picture yourself doing all the things you need to do well; controlling and passing the ball, making good runs, making tackles, encouraging teammates and scoring goals! This helps to build confidence and also reinforces positive mental patterns. If you imagine a certain pass or move hundreds of times in your head, you’ll actually find that you can execute it better when the moment arrives in a game. The great thing is, you can work on this mental rehearsal anytime and anywhere.

STEP 4 – MAINTAIN EMOTIONAL STATE

Maintain your emotional state in games, regardless of the score. This one is difficult but it will give you a huge advantage if you work on it and to improve in this area, you HAVE to work on it. Winning and getting carried away? Catch yourself. Losing and starting to get angry? Catch yourself. You need to actively focus on your emotional state in different situations and continue playing with the same intensity and quality. If you do this, others on your team will see it, feel it and are more likely to follow your lead. The more players that do it collectively, the better your team will be in terms of emotional balance and performance.

STEP 5 – PUT IN THE TIME

Put in the time and effort to give yourself the mental confidence required to play with comfort and ease. If you spend time individually working on your ball control (with a ball and wall for example), then spend time with friends playing pickup games or 1v1s to work on dribbling and ball retention, you’ll set yourself up to be mentally confident. Imagine knowing that you can control the ball perfectly virtually every time it comes to you, and that you can keep the ball away from almost any opponent you play against because you are comfortable in 1v1 situations. You play the game relaxed, not tight. You actually smile when you play because it feels easy. This should be your aim.

The mental side of the game is hugely important so it is vital that you work on these five steps consistently. It’s not about just doing it once or twice while you are reading or listening to this, it’s about making it part of your routine and working on these mental steps all the time. If you do this, I guarantee that you will be mentally stronger than most of the opponents you come up against, at every level of the game.

Become a mental warrior!