Are You Afraid to Fail When Playing Soccer?
Does your fear of failure create greater pressure to play the perfect game?
Have you played in a soccer game where you felt tremendous pressure from your coaches, your parents and, even, your teammates?
Expectations were high and you probably felt the need to be and play perfect soccer…
Your anxiety steadily increased and you were afraid of making mistakes during the game…
You played it safe, not risking going for the ball, tentatively passing the ball and back on your heels defensively… leading to a subpar performance.
Fear of failure, the need to be perfect and trying to please everyone around you increased the pressure you experienced on the soccer field.
When the pressure is too great, your performance drops off dramatically.
Playing it safe or trying to avoid mistakes often leads to the very mistakes you are trying to avoid.
Playing it safe never leads to optimal performance.
Just as you can develop your technical skills in soccer and improve your play, developing the mental skill of managing pressure will allow you to utilize your physical skills optimally.
I interviewed United Kingdom mental coach Paul Miller regarding coping with pressure in sports.
Miller works with high level athletes helping them achieve their best and understand that often it is their mind that interferes with performance.
COHN: “Tell me a little bit about what pressure and who are the athletes that are most prone to be negatively affected by pressure?”
MILLER: “I find that athletes that get so caught up in their emotions find it difficult to be their best and, very often, it’s because of the expectations that they and their environment put on them.”
COHN: “What are some of the expectations that turn into pressure for young athletes?”
MILLER: “Many athletes are afraid to fail so they are not free to play their very best and that’s a distraction for them.
Most athletes survive on their skills and talents and have little knowledge on how to deal with their emotions and the mental aspects… and these athletes don’t really know that they can train themselves to be better at managing those things.”
COHN: “How do you help that athlete get back on track?”
MILLER: “It is important to understand when they are competing, what are the controllables and what are the uncontrollables… When they look at the controllables (what can they do) that will actually make [performance] get better. When an individual feels that their destiny is in their own hands, then they feel a lot more confident.”
Try these tips to overcome the fear of fail and play your best soccer:
- Tip #1: Understand the things that you can control in your performance. Write out a list of “controllables” (your thoughts, competition strategy, routines, etc.) and the “uncontrollables” (weather, officiating, field conditions, competition, etc.) of athletic performance.
- Tip #2: You should create plan on how to stay focused on the controllables: “During warm-up, I’ll focus on…” “During the game, I’ll focus on…” “When I notice my mind drifting or if my emotions are getting the best of me, I’ll refocus on…”
-For Peaksports Members- Listen to the full interview with Paul Miller here: Peaksports Member Network
Related Sports Psychology Articles
- How To Overcome Fear of Failure in Games
- Fear of Failure in Soccer Players
- Overcoming Fear of Losing
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- Subscribe to The Sports Psychology Podcast on Spotify
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It’s crazy to think that a fear of failure actually leads to more failure! When players are so worried about being “perfect” they get so wrapped up in what might go wrong they can actually freeze up and make more mistakes than they normally might.
I have this problem…. I realized when I’m playing a pick up game I’m myself and I can play, but when the coaches are watching I make alot of mistakes more than usual. It’s like I’m not playing like me.
I do this to. But I find I preform well in games but get extremely nervous in practice it really frustrates me because I play at such an advanced level and I feel very insecure.
Sir pls answer this…, when I am playing a friendly match with my old fellow friends or with unknown peolpe I am confident ..but ass the ball reaches me i get pressurised and and an’t able to perform according to performence which is quite well …Actually i am a winger and many a timea i get a chance to cut the defenders but .. at the right moment my fear is at my whole body specially my MIND .. so pls help …if u could help it would be a very appriciated..
Sir I m having this kind of problem in our practice sessions I do outstanding performance but match situations i will get tensed some kind of ericcs and nervous how to eliminate these … Help me pls…
sir please when ever i am in the filed i am confident and then when i pass the ball wrongly ,my teamates shoutes at me and then i get . afaird and any time the ball comes to i dont know what to do please help me
Sir am a mild fielder,i always play my ball with fear and without confidence
I played & started in academy 3 years, quit when new coach benched me for 5 games. I was angry and confused. I joined a low level team that wasn’t serious about the game, I played H.S. was made Capt played hard but we lost our 1st CIF game. I can’t play anymore. I physically get sick, itchy skin, tightness of breath.