Aug 15 • Mindset🧠
Play at Your Best Under pressure - Learn These 3 Skills
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.
I strongly recommend keeping a journal of the thoughts you have in training and matches, and how they affect your performance.
🚨Let me know in the comments if you are already practicing these mental skills or if you would like me create an workshop to show you how to include then into your training routine
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Play at Your Best Under pressure - Learn These 3 Skills
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