Many players who excel in football have periods of time where their game is just off. They fumble on a plays, they miss passes that they could normally catch, etc. Most players endure these slumps when they are not mentally prepared for the game. You have to have football mental toughness to be able to succeed in the sport and in life. We are prone to mental and emotional anguish which affects how we live our lives.
When your girlfriend breaks up with you or there is some negative emotional event with you, your football psychology will be off. This is why mental preparation in football is crucial for you to always be able to play your best.
Without being mentally prepared and having a strong football mind, you will inevitably hit one of these slumps. There are many players who have their game rituals which may seem odd but that help these great players to succeed on the mental side as well as the physical side of football. Football mental toughness does not just come to a player, you have to train for it. Not all football coaches teach this part of the sport, however psychology for football is 90 percent of the game. It’s mental!
In order for you to succeed on your path towards football mental toughness, you need to conquer yourself. You are your own worst enemy. You tell yourself that you are not working hard enough, that you are playing terribly, that everyone else is better than you, and the list goes on. You are allowing your football confidence to slip away which ultimately destroys any mental and physical toughness that you have remaining. You always have to believe in yourself and believe in your abilities. Until you do, you will never improve.
Another important part of the football mental game is being able to clear your mind. Completely turn yourself off from the world. This can be extremely challenging but it can be done. Many players begin to meditate or even do yoga in order to clear their mind. Once you are able to clear your mind, you can begin to focus on what is important- winning.
By clearing your mind, you will also see that your self esteem increases and that your skills are quickly improving. You are on your way to becoming an even better.
Even if you consider yourself to be the embodiment of football mental toughness, you should always take the time out to focus positively on yourself. You can be tough on the game, but not too tough on yourself. As long as you are mentally ready for a game, you will be able to play at your best. Stay on top of developing your football mind and your football mental game.
