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Mental toughness and youth soccer

A part of youth soccer training that often gets over looked is mental toughness.  Skills are practiced and practiced, games are won and lost and seasons come and go.  But have you ever wondered why some players go on to play at a higher level while others just maintain the status quo and play in their comfort zone.  Or why some teams always seem to be at the top of the league table. Superior skills, strength and speed are definitely huge factors that propel players and teams to higher levels and success, but are not usually enough.  I have known players with tremendous skills strength and speed that never really went anywhere.  And I have known players with good skills strength and speed that have played at top levels.  The difference – mental toughness, the desire to win and persevere through anything it takes to make it.

Developing mental toughness in a player is not such an easy job.  The player has to have a love for the game and a desire to be the best.  Examples around him or her are also key.

There seem to be so many obstacles in a young player’s path these days that draw him or her away from developing their full soccer potential including mental toughness.

Although I love the computer and our high tech society I am very grateful I grew up without it. I grew up at a time where you had to pretty much make your own fun.  Riding a bicycle was the only way for a kid to get around.  Now they can go anywhere in the world on their computer or in their computer games from their desk, spending countless hours every year.  Soccer and mental toughness gets lost in their joy sticks.

Don’t get me wrong, I believe kids today are so much better at multi tasking then I ever was, they are used to having so much on the table at once.  And usually they handle it pretty well. But you can’t expect them to be able to look at the big picture and know and do what is really in their own best interest at such a young age after all a big part of their job is to have fun.  You can however guide them and make it easier for them to stay on course with their soccer dreams and having fun in a sporting way, by taking an active interest in their soccer skill development including helping them develop mental toughness.  Discipline is definitely a part of it. If you can instill discipline in your kids it will help build mental toughness. Regular habits are also key.  Regular habits instill discipline and make it easier to accomplish their goals.  Encourage them to set aside maybe a half hour a day at a certain time to practice their soccer skills.  Encourage them with praise whenever you see improvement.  This will push them on to unbelievable heights that you notice and recognize their improvements.

There are also excellent at home training products that you can make available to your young players that will make it much easier for them to develop their talent.

In the end parents and coaches have a tremendous influence in the direction kids go and the activities they engage in and the results that come with those choices.  If you take the effort now to guide them they will be the better for it having a more balanced, healthy and happy life with a healthy and strong mental outlook.