But even though it gets talked about a lot, how many players are actually taking the time to explore meditation? How many are working to create new habits and add the benefits of this practice to their game? Not many. Let’s change that today.
Whatever the reason may be, we know that simply STARTING is usually one of the biggest hurdles. That is why we’ve put together this beginner’s guide on meditation for soccer players to help you get moving forward once and for all. (A heads up – this post is not for seasoned meditators, it’s for soccer players that have little-to-no meditation experience).
This Post Contains:
The benefits of meditation for soccer players
Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, David Beckham, Gareth Bale and closer to home, the USWNT’s Christen Press, have all used meditation as a part of their mental skills training and game preparation. So not only does science say that meditation works, but so do all these fine folks. And I don’t know about you, but I’m not about to argue with Press or Ronaldo, etc., their achievements on the soccer field are proof enough for me.
According to The Daily Meditation, a blog about all things meditation, meditation is good for soccer players because it improves coordination, helps your body perform at peak condition, reduces healing time, improves reaction times, helps with your overall mentality and reduces stress ahead of big games. Phew! Good list right? Let’s dig in a little further.
Resting & refreshing
While this doesn’t mean that you should try and get away with less sleep, it DOES provide a great option for a mid-day or pre-training reset for your mind and body so that you are more prepared to come out with the mental & physical energy needed to engage with your team and work hard.
Managing stress
Being able to self-regulate your behaviors and emotions is helpful to soccer players both when it comes to decision making in live play and when dealing with difficult situations throughout the course of the game. Meditation will not make stress and anxiety completely go away, but it will help you cope with both internal and external stressors and keep things more manageable and within your control.
Reducing recovery time
Increasing focus and discipline
And we are not just talking about outward focus (aka – paying attention to the game environment, seeing opportunities, being able to anticipate, etc.), we are also talking about INWARD focus and the ability to push away those self-defeating thoughts that impede your focus and concentration. The things that distract you on the field and take your head out of the game.
Creating a healthy mindset
Meditation can also help soccer players be more growth-minded and become a better student of the game. It can also help you boost your confidence, because increased confidence is what happens when you do good things for yourself (you start to believe in yourself more). You might also find that your mental toughness is better, as you’re better able to handle hard things and rethink certain obstacles as places to grow instead of roadblocks.
{Related read: The 3 KEY pieces to building up your mental TOUGHNESS in soccer}
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How to meditate as a soccer player: Your questions answered
As you develop a practice and learn more about it, you’ll discover what works best for you and create a practice that serves your needs. This advice here is simply a STARTING POINT for meditation for soccer players, after you get this down and have a routine going you’ll be more comfortable and able to push yourself further and try different things.
When should I meditate?
How long should I meditate for?
Where is the best place to meditate?
How should I sit when meditating?
HOW do I meditate? What do I do?
You can also use ‘noting’ to help you focus – a simple example is saying to yourself in your head “in” on the inhale and “out” on the exhale. ‘Noting’ helps you follow your breath easier and keep your attention on it.
What if I can't clear my mind when I'm meditating?
This is the most important piece of advice in this entire blog post, so internalize it. When you notice that your thoughts have wandered away and you are no longer focused on your breath, do this: acknowledge that you’ve wandered and gotten lost in your thoughts, and then simply reset and start again.
The big thing here is that you don’t criticize yourself or get upset with yourself. Because here’s the truth, and not just with beginners but with all meditators – you WILL get lost in your thoughts and your mind WILL wander. The magic happens when you NOTICE that you’ve gotten lost and you pull yourself back. This is the space where self-awareness grows and your focus & discipline start to expand. So instead of getting upset with yourself for letting your thoughts carry you away, try to CONGRATULATE yourself for noticing, coming back and starting again.
How do I know if I'm doing it 'right'?
If your mind is all over the place like described above (which it will be, don’t worry) and you are doing your best to notice when your thoughts wander and bring your attention back and start over WITHOUT beating yourself up – then you’re doing EXACTLY what you need to be doing in order to get the most our of your meditation session.
It most likely will not feel like you are doing it right to start out because it will be really hard, but dealing with difficult, challenging situations is part of the growth.
How I do know if it's working?
Some of the results you can expect to see on the soccer field and in life in general include being more responsive and less reactive. You might see more creative play and find yourself getting into the ‘zone’ more often (you know, that special space when time slows down and you just have immense clarity in regards to the things going on around you?)
And lastly, can I listen to music while I'm meditating?
Unfortunately no. Not if you want to fully reap the benefits listed above. While resting and sitting quietly listening to music is a great way to have some quiet time and rest prior to a big game, silent meditation is what you need to be doing if you really want to get max benefits from this mental skills practice. The same goes for guided mediation – it is great in its own right, even providing its own unique benefits, but it doesn’t train your brain in the same way that silent, focused mediation for soccer players does.
Useful tips when starting a meditation practice
- Embrace and enjoy the stillness, let what comes up just come up
- If you want to get the benefits, schedule a daily time to meditate and keep it consistent. Period. Consistency is the biggest key to seeing results with meditation for soccer players.
- Don’t look at meditation as a TASK or something you HAVE to do. It’s something you GET to do, something you CHOOSE to do. Something that you might even enjoy over time.
- If silent mediation is just too difficult at the beginning, use a guided meditation app. Any type of mediation is better than no meditation. Apps are great for holding you accountable as well.
Challenge yourself TODAY
Hi everyone! I’m Jenn and I create content to help female soccer players and coaches maximize individual and team potential by developing healthy mindset skills. Join other subscribers and sign up for the newsletter for all my best tips and advice!
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