How Not to be Nervous before a Game

This OSA training video will teach you how to deal with nerves and how to handle being nervous before a game. 

Being a little nervous before a game is natural and should be expected and welcomed. Being a tad nervous helps you focus and not get cocky before a game. 

Being so nervous you are scared to play or mess up is a problem. It happens to players at all levels of the game from youth to pro. The good news is, it's a fixable problem!

You work hard on the physical part of your game but this video will help you work hard on your mental game. 

Your mind is a powerful tool. If you can convince your mind you do believe in yourself and your abilities you will be less nervous before the game. Of course you have to be training hard to constantly improve your game, to back up that self belief.

Soccer at the pro level is 90 percent mental. Meaning everyone is talented, but the biggest difference in good players and great players is their self belief in their abilities. You want to be confident, not cocky. 

Key Points:

1. Convince your mind you believe in yourself. Tell yourself "I believe in it®" multiple times a day. 
2. Relax before a game by watching a movie, listening to music or reading a book. Try to take your mind off the game. 
3. Complete your first 5 passes of the game, make them simple passes. Naturally by having completed your passes, you will feel success, your nerves will settle and you will have a great game because you had a positive start. 
4. Be positive when you make a mistake, don't react negative and put your head down. React positive and hustle back on defense.

Exercise Player Can Do: 

Multiple times a day, not just on game days, tell yourself "I believe in it®". This will help you stay positive and decrease your nervousness before a game. If you something at school or in a practice or game goes wrong and it causes you to get nervous or think negative, tell yourself "I believe in it®" and block that negative thought!

What Player Could Be Doing Wrong: 

If you are thinking about messing up all the time and that is the reason for your nervousness remind yourself everyone makes mistakes and don't be scared to mess up. If you play scared, your performance will suffer. 

We all make mistakes, even top pros make mistakes. What matters is what you do afterwards, always react positive. So if you mess up, don't think negative and say in your mind "oh no, I messed up, my teammates and coach are going to yell at me". If you think that then you will probably mess up again and begin a downward negative spiral that will lead to a big loss of confidence and you being subbed out of the game.

React positive and hustle back on defense. Almost laugh it off in your mind. We all make mistakes so the sooner you accept that and learn how to react positive to them you will be a much better player I promise you!

Bonus Tip!

Keep your head up! When you look down, especially after you make a mistake, you naturally have a negative thought in your mind. Don't look down, always keep your head up and think positive!

This Video Covers:
How Not to be Nervous Before a Game - Free Soccer Tips, Soccer Tip, Soccer Help, Soccer Advice - How to Coach Soccer - Soccer Coaches - How to Play Soccer - Soccer Coach - Coaching Soccer - Coaching Youth Soccer - How to Coach Youth Soccer - How to Teach Soccer