I think it’s more important to be mentally ready than physically ready. I had an old coach who used to say ‘competence breeds confidence’ so as long as I’m making sure that everything I do mentally is correct, then it’s going to translate onto the field.”- Will Marty

All football players, irrespective of where they come from will tell you just how much work it takes to be part of a team that is dedicated and can play together.

Dealing with yourself and your fears as an athlete and as a person can be hard enough. Dealing with a team is even harder, but with a football mind, it is possible to be part of a team that can keep together, even under pressure.

You may wonder why players end up losing their confidence and yet they were once good players who showed a lot of potential.

There are many reasons.

Sometimes, players succumb to pressure. At other times, they may be going through lifestyle challenges or emotional difficulties that end up affecting their football mental game.

If you are a player, it is worth knowing that this is not the end of the road. You can bounce back to your usual self using the tips given below.

Practice

Football psychology emphasizes that the football mental game is a skill that is learned rather than innate.
It means that as a player, you continuously have to place yourself in a position where you can flex your mental muscles. With constant practice, you will know how to remain calm, and even when you play against teams with either a physical advantage or that you consider better opponents, you will triumph.

Keep it Positive

All may be going well, but then suddenly, you experience one bad game. Another game comes along, and you lose again, or your favorite teammate gets injured.

According to psychology for football, this is the time that most players lose their focus and start having a negative attitude that leads them further from being champions.

It is, therefore, vital to realize that this is the time you have to move forward against all the odds. You have to come together with the team and chart a way forward when it reaches such a point. Working together can help you keep positive as a team.

Get Out of Your Comfort Zone

According to psychology in football, one of the reasons why athletes eventually begin to stall is because they are deep in their comfort zones. They are overconfident in their abilities and believe that nobody can give them a run for their money.

This cannot be further from the truth.

Every day, there are new and more prepared athletes coming up, and they can quickly cause the confidence of these athletes to run out with their skills. So why wait until somebody has to wake you from your slumber and all you have to do is challenge yourself?

Get out of your comfort zone today and improve your football mental toughness.
Download the free mental game assessment and get started on Improving your Mental Game in Football.