Playing under pressure is not easy The problem is that you can't run away from pressure Unless you choose to play in low-level matches (which is very unlikely since you’re an athlete who wants to improve and reach a higher level) Pressure was something that affected my performance for 4 years... and I wasn't even aware of it! For 4 years I struggled to win anything important in my sport. For 4 years I missed 4 1st places on the podium because I couldn't handle pressure I couldn't handle my emotions and what was going through my mind And I messed up badly in the moments that mattered most… But 2 years ago I said enough is enough. I worked on building the 3 most important skills that helped me handle that pressure. And funny enough, these 3 skills are not complicated or mysterious at all. That being said... If you also struggle with handling pressure and keep making costly mistakes in big matches, work on developing these 3 mental skills: 🧠 Awareness Start checking in with your thoughts and physical cues during training. Ask yourself: What am I thinking right now? How’s my body reacting? Catch the signs before they spiral: like a racing heartbeat before a penalty, tense shoulders before a header, or shaky legs before a big challenge. 🎯 Focus Pick 1 simple cue for key game situations, something you can control (like lock in your first touch, scan before receiving, or drive into space). Repeat it in training until it becomes automatic. When pressure hits in a match, that cue helps block out the noise, whether it’s the crowd, the scoreline, or an aggressive opponent. 🗣 Self-Talk Notice what you say to yourself before, during, and after the game. If it’s unhelpful or anxious, flip it. Example: Change “don’t miss this pass” to “pick your spot and play it”. Or “don’t mess up this shot” to “you’ve finished this hundreds of times in training — go for it!” Self-talk is the foundation of every other mental skill you need in football, but you have to become aware of it first.

One of the biggest mistakes I used to make when I was competing And also, one of the biggest mistakes the athletes that I work with used to make Was focusing BIG on winning... and then losing BIG The biggest mindset shift I made, and the first mindset shift I work on with my athletes Is to shift their focus away from winning... If this sounds strange... And I get it why it might... Because as an athlete we should want to win, We should want to stand on the podium We should want to hold that shiny trophy But this focus is only making you lose So if this thing doesn't make sense, I get you That's why I made this video Where I explain why, And how you can shift your mindset To always win at anything and everything 🔥🔥🔥 Watch this short video and then drop your thoughts in the comments section👇🏼https://youtu.be/wRa6yeCe5HM?si=fcNpL0edbJ5-apxL

I want to write this for you as a reminder Whether you are working toward building a skill Or you are trying to get rid of a bad one Or you simply want to get better If you want to be successful, you have to be aware To be aware of your current situation, what you want to change and how you would like to change it. But developing awareness is not easy Because we are human beings who forget And life moves so fast these days We are constantly thinking about what’s ahead of us. So, to develop your awareness, you must create the habit of being present (and to make it even powerful, you can add journaling) And you do that by asking yourself these 3 key questions: 1️⃣ What's happening right now? ex. What am I thinking? 2️⃣ What's causing this? ex. Why am I thinking that? What happened? 3️⃣ What should I do next? ex. Should I address my unhelpful thinking, or should I deal with the situation? Awareness is the key When you are aware of your thoughts, feelings, and behaviour You can take control and manage them more easily

Self-talk is one of the most powerful tools a footballer can use to take control of their emotions and performance. Most probably, many of you know that when you are having these negative thoughts, you should start telling yourself positive affirmations. Now this is ALMOST true... Affirmations and positive talk don't always work❗️ And here's why: 1️⃣ Positive affirmations won't work if a. you don't believe them Your mind will never believe your positive statement if you don't believe it about yourself, if you don't see it as a true fact about yourself... even if it is a true fact b. are not true statements If you are trying to lie to yourself, your mind will know, and it will never believe it because it doesn't have hard proof. Saying to yourself that you are the best at it when you have never won, it will never work. 2️⃣ Positive affirmations are not always positive Remember this: not all positive thoughts are beneficial for your performance, and not all negative thoughts are detrimental to your performance. Sometimes, having negative thoughts such as "I messed up again, I didn't prepare enough" can motivate you to get a better plan next time and stick with it. So before you get frustrated because your self-talk is not working, check if you are making any of these mistakes 👆🏼 Drop in the comments if negative self-talk has any impact on your performance, and how you are dealing with it👇🏼 Let's help you change that 🔥

If you're serious about becoming a pro footballer, you need to train your mind to focus on the right things at the right time. That’s what builds confidence, cuts mistakes, and gets you off the bench and into the starting 11. “Amateurs practice until they get it right, pros practice till they can't get it wrong.” As a footballer, you are going through different stages of development, and your focus needs to match where you are. ⚽Consolidation Stage: Under 21 years old At this stage, your primary goal is to automate your core skills (such as first touch, turning, and short passing) so that they become instinctive, even under pressure Lauren James spent her teenage years mastering 1v1s and body positioning until they became second nature. That’s why now she doesn’t hesitate, she reacts. What to do: Take one core skill and repeat it under pressure (tight spaces, limited time) until you don’t have to think about how to do it. Train with intensity and repetition. If you’re still thinking about the movement, it’s not automatic yet. ⚽Optimisation Stage: 21 years old and over You should now be able to perform basic skills without thinking. The focus shifts to decision-making, awareness, and execution under pressure. Keira Walsh is known for her calmness under pressure. Why? Because her technical skills are automatic, her attention is focused on reading the game and selecting the right pass. What to do: Add scanning to your training. Force yourself to check your surroundings before receiving the ball in every drill or game. Keep your technical base sharp, but start training your brain to scan early, anticipate, and make faster decisions. REMEMBER: You don't build an elite mindset just through reading or knowledge, but you build it through constant practice and repetition! So make sure to attend all live workshops to learn how you can implement everything into your training routine and games so that you can become a pro footballer and play for your dream team🔥