| A varsity soccer player heads the ball into the goal to | | | | example, when preparing players for penalty |
| put his team ahead by one. With more than 20 | | | | shootouts, coaches can talk to players who look to |
| minutes to play, players on the team that is behind | | | | maximize gains (usually the forwards and some |
| start to hang their heads. Their body language, slumped | | | | midfielders) and tell them to focus on scoring. On the |
| shoulders, a slow walk, and frustrated, angry | | | | other hand, coaches can prep those who seek to |
| expressions convey their temporary lack of resiliency. | | | | minimize losses (usually the fullbacks) by telling them to |
| The speed with which they can bounce back from this | | | | focus on not missing the shot. These are individualized |
| setback holds the key to their success. Do they give in | | | | messages that can run through the shooter's head |
| to their disappointment, let it turn to resignation, and | | | | while preparing to take the PK which will increase the |
| ever-so-slightly decrease their efforts? Or do they use | | | | probability of success during the shootout. |
| their anger to stoke the fires of competition and | | | | Use Mirror Neurons to Your Advantage |
| redouble their efforts to score and tie the game? | | | | Finally, soccer players become better simply by |
| Psychology is beginning to unravel some of the | | | | watching world class players. There is a 'mirror |
| mysteries around sports performance in general and | | | | system' in the human brain which responds to actions |
| around soccer in particular. This article discusses three | | | | we watch, such as Cristiano Ronaldo scoring a goal |
| recent findings in sports psychology and how they can | | | | with a heel kick or performing a scissor move. This |
| be best applied to soccer. | | | | system in the brain has been shown in brain scan |
| Focus On Playing to Potential, Not Winning | | | | studies to activate when the individual is viewing a |
| For instance, players who make predictions about who | | | | sport or activity in which they participate. However, the |
| will win the upcoming game enjoy the game less than | | | | mirror system does not activate for a dancer |
| those who do not. By predicting the outcome of the | | | | watching a soccer player. The mirror system only |
| game, it creates the possibility of being incorrect and | | | | activates for individuals who have been trained in the |
| thus leads to the anticipation of regret. This anticipation | | | | particular sport being viewed. We have known for |
| of being wrong puts more pressure on the player to | | | | over 50 years that visualization is helpful in improving |
| perform. As we know, too much pressure can push a | | | | sports performance (beginning with slalom skiing back |
| player out of the zone (where performance is | | | | in the 1950's). Science is just discovering that the brain |
| maximized) and into a subpar performance. | | | | also learns by observing experts. Although no muscle |
| A better approach is that of nonattachment where | | | | movement takes place in the observer, the brain acts |
| players do not get overly attached to the idea of | | | | as if the body is replicating the movements being |
| winning or losing. Soccer players can control one thing | | | | made while watching Ronaldo. The same pattern of |
| - their own play. By focusing the team on playing to | | | | neurons fire when watching Ronaldo perform a bicycle |
| their best individual and team potential, and decreasing | | | | kick as when the player him- or herself does a bicycle |
| focus on winning, the team plays more relaxed, more | | | | kick. The possibility exists that players can hone their |
| effective soccer. | | | | skills during injuries by watching professional soccer |
| Understand Your Players for Better Penalty Kicks | | | | games, highlights on YouTube of favorite players and |
| Another finding shows that some individuals look for | | | | attending live games. |
| potential gains in general and on the soccer field. Other | | | | There are a number of things that psychology can |
| people spend their efforts attempting to thwart | | | | add to sport in general and soccer in particular. Try |
| negative outcomes. So one group looks to maximize | | | | incorporating some of these suggestions in your play |
| gains, while the other group looks to minimize losses. | | | | or coaching and see what results come. Above all, |
| Soccer coaches can identify this tendency in individual | | | | have fun. Soccer is first and foremost a game! |
| players and use it to fulfill their players' potential. For | | | | |