“It’s not the will to win that matters ¬¬- everyone has that. It’s the will to prepare to win that matters.” — Paul “Bear” Bryant

Many athletes create goals for themselves, only to see them never materialize.

The reason that their goals do not become their reality is that they do not take any actions to move toward their goals. Just wanting something is not enough to make it happen. To get anything in the football mental game, you need to take action.

The best way to achieve any goal that you set for yourself is by making an action plan for it.

Get excited about your action plan: You will achieve your goals faster and easier if you’re enthusiastic. Build a passion so strong that no negative influence can undermine your football mental toughness. When you’re setting your football goals, stay enthusiastic so even the toughest task will be more enjoyable.

Write down your action plan: Over time you will want to do this for every goal that you set for yourself. Right now it is best to start with one goal that way you can narrow your focus and drive your football mind to achieve it. The best way to do that is to write down everything you think you like to do to reach your goal.

Break the actions into smaller steps: In an action plan, it is important to a weekly and monthly list of actions that you will take to achieve your goal. This will hold you accountable and keep you on your timeline.

Recruit an accountability partner: Your football coach or mental game coach can keep you on track by reminding you what you’re working towards. Post it in a place where you will see it every day.

Assign realistic dates: Setting attainable dates for reaching your goals, and adjusting them as you go, is a crucial part of your action plan. Write down a finish-by date for each of your goals. And if you miss a deadline, give yourself a new deadline. Then evaluate why you missed it in the first place. Was the timeline too ambitious? Did something or someone get in the way? Recognizing what hindered you can help you avoid the same problem in the future.

Recognize partial accomplishments: Achieving your career goals is a long-term challenge. But that doesn’t mean you should wait until you achieve them all to reward yourself. Give yourself some credit – and maybe a treat – when you check a goal or a several steps toward achieving a goal off your list. A little reward can go a long way in improving your football confidence and motivation!

Achieving goals rarely happens overnight. Don’t aim for perfection in your football mental game; instead, strive to get started. Then place your focus on sticking with your goals. When you’re working towards your goals, remember that you don’t have to get it right; you just have to get it going!

*Download the free mental game assessment and get started on Improving your Mental Game in Football