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Playing or Competing? How To Use A Wining Mindset in Soccer

Posted February 21st, 2010 by Spike

“Players who PLAY bring skill; players who COMPETE bring everything!”

There are quite a few soccer exercises which will show you how to play soccer. To achieve proficiency can require hours of soccer skills training and soccer specific training for soccer endurance. There is too much importance on mastering skills and playing in American soccer and not enough on competing. Most people mistake speed and skill for talent. Real talent Starts with vitality, determination, work ethic and also mindset to win. Without having these kind of attributes, a player can’t ever be exceptional. Coaches have concentrated a great deal on playing that we have not taught players to compete, to struggle, to work hard or to possess the mindset to win. In the American soccer culture, we’ve often had an inferiority complex, so we highlight playing, technical ability and skills. Our youth play a lot of soccer, but few are competing. But all of the soccer shooting drills will not help a player to progress the next stage if they don’t possess a winning soccer mindset. (structured on the basic principle that the mind leads our body, and your soccer game is an expression of your thinking, (hence the term “Mindset”).

It’s not generally the players’ fault. Our structure is doesn’t work. Our coaches are often focusing on strengthening a players expertise with soccer agility training and soccer fitness drills rather then focusing on building a winning mindset in addition to the skills required to win. There is simply no consideration with regards to competing to get a position on the team or being even better to compete for a spot…they simply change teams. High school age players don’t care a lot concerning the end result of games (whether they’re playing in high school or a team), however they do think about “showing off”…about playing to showcase their skills and ability for college coaches. Add to this the high number of meaningless games in children’s soccer and we’ve got a dangerous combination. Junior players have gone to soccer players training and played in plenty of meaningless high school and club games. The focus gradually changes from the game to the individual, to playing and showing off. Competition is missing. When the players proceed to the next level, they haven’t learned how you can be competitive. They just don’t develop the drive, work ethic or mindset to win. Players drop enthusiasm and self-confidence when the “work/play” is no longer effortless (i.e. college soccer, or the next level). The rules shift at the next level; the main focus changes to competing and effort and the players can’t handle it. They feel they’re playing (and they are) – but they’re not competing. We want players who compete and play; players who have the mindset to win.

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