Expectations In Soccer
Twenty-three year old English soccer player Callum Wilson has been gaining a lot of momentum in his second year in the Premier League. Signed by Bournemouth back in July 2014, Wilson has made some recent improvements to his game that have gained him much attention.
After scoring four times in the first four games of the season, Wilson was asked about how he obtained this success.
First, Wilson said, he chose to begin the season with a clean slate. After five standout seasons as a Coventry trainee, Wilson stated, “The goals I scored last year don’t count for anything and it’s suddenly time to do it all over again, just this time in the Premier League.” Wilson understood that with a higher level of play comes a higher expectation of performance.
Many times, athletes go into competition with the expectation of winning based on our past performances. Although athletes may think expectations equals confidence, it can actually have a negative impact on performance.
The expectation to succeed causes stress that takes away from your ability to perform at a high level. The best way to approach a match is without any expectation. You should want to focus on the game, rather than the outcome.
Although this outlook is helpful, it can be difficult to obtain without the proper training. After failing to score in Bournemouth’s first two matches, Wilson called on the help of a sports psychologist.
Through the help of sports psychology, Wilson was able to regain focus and relieve the anxiety he was feeling in the beginning of the season.
After turning a hat trick against West Ham in Bournemouth’s third game, Wilson said:
“Quite a few people have asked whether I was nervous before I took a penalty against West Ham, but the truth is that I wasn’t.”
With the help of sports psychology coaching, Wilson was able to greatly increase his performance. Mental training can help talented players make a breakthrough.
With mental training, you too can improve your game.
Tips for improving your performance
Let go of any mental scars you have about past performances. Start each season and game afresh with positive goals.
Learn how to control what you focus on.
You can choose to focus on playing up to others’ expectations or you can focus executing each touch one at a time.
Check Out Our Video of the Week, How Athletes Can Overcome Tentative Performances!
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- Is The Mental Game the Weakest Link in Soccer?
- Six Mental Game Lessons and England’s Success
- Mental Game Skills to Play Better Soccer Today
- Subscribe to The Sports Psychology Podcast on iTunes
- Subscribe to The Sports Psychology Podcast on Spotify
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