How many times have you eagerly anticipated your coach’s starting lineup announcement only to be disappointed when your teammate’s name was called instead of yours? The truth in the matter is, throughout your soccer career, there are going to be times when you are not in the starting eleven. Times when your teammate is consistently outperforming you at your position.
But if you’re a player who is growth-minded, invested and eager to improve, there is a ton of potential in this situation – potential to COMPLETELY level up your game.
Beyond the starting lineup scenario, there are also going to be times when your teammates are simply better than you at certain things. Times when you’re not the best at something. Here’s how to use these situations to your advantage by learning to see healthy competition as soccer motivation and a tool for growth and forward progression.
Let’s dive into why it’s good to not always be the best.
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Stepping up to the challenge
When you have a teammate who keeps edging you out at your position, you have two choices. You can feel angry and resentful toward your teammate (or coach) and fill your head with self-defeating thoughts that are not good, useful, or constructive (and further hurt your play on the field). Or you can respond by reframing the situation as an opportunity for improvement and choose to overcome the obstacle through healthy competition.
{Related read: Resilience in soccer: how to BOUNCE BACK from soccer setbacks}
Having a strong teammate to compete with is one of the best things that can ever happen to you in soccer BECAUSE IT CALLS YOU TO STEP UP. It calls you to step up to the challenge of having to improve, grow, and work really, really hard to keep up with them. And to work even harder if you want to outplay them. If this isn’t soccer motivation then I don’t know what is.
Taking responsibility for your development
So why is this a good thing? Why should you value healthy competition with a teammate? It might mean you don’t get as much playing time as you would if they weren’t around, true. But you’ll grow more and become a stronger player if you can embrace the situation and see the value in it.
Here’s that value, where the soccer motivation comes from: you’ll be growing as a player because you’ll be in a situation where you have to put in the time, energy, and effort to keep up. You’ll have to reflect, ask for feedback, and add new skills to your game in the areas you are weakest. In other words, you’ll have to be accountable and take responsibility for your own development.
Grow your confidence through preparedness.
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Increased soccer motivation
Having something to work towards keeps you on your toes and keeps you from becoming complacent. Having something to work towards feeds your soccer motivation and drive, it gives you a purpose.
When you are in an environment where you are always the best and are no longer challenged, it can be hard to maintain high levels of self-regulation and motivation. But when you are working to keep up with another player and have an attainable goal in front of you (such as securing that starting role), it can be easier to put in the extra work needed to move you towards what you want.
Healthy competition with teammates can also motivate you to WANT to learn more about the game. Growth as a soccer player does not just come in the form of technical work and fitness. It also means increasing your tactical knowledge, gaining a deeper understanding of the roles and responsibilities of each position, and increasing your situational awareness and decision-making on the pitch.
{Related read: 9 ways to INCREASE your situational awareness in soccer}
Leveling up, together
Valuing, respecting, and being grateful for your teammates is a very important part of this. Yes, it is possible to be competitive with other players while still being a great teammate and friend. It is absolutely possible, and it’s important.
When you have genuine compassion and truly care about your teammates, not just as soccer players but as people, you help the collective group thrive both on and off the field. And when you help the collective thrive, you are leading, regardless of whether you are on the bench or in the starting lineup.
{Related read: How to create STRONG team culture on your girls soccer team}
Growth-minded soccer players want their teammates to play hard, have success, and keep improving. Even the people they are competing with for starting positions. Why? Because the better your teammate does on the field, the harder you will have to push yourself to keep up with her.
The ultimate goal with healthy competition is this: as you each keep pushing each other, you’ll each continue to improve until you are both at the top of your game. You helped each other get there by continually out-competing each other and motivating each other.
You never want to be the best player on your team because then there isn’t anyone to chase. If you ever DO become the best player on your team, then that’s when you know that it’s time for you to move. Move onto a higher level team or to a new club where you can surround yourself with better players and start this whole process over again.
When having to work to secure a starting spot, you find yourself in a situation that is calling you to become a better version of yourself and find your soccer motivation. And if you decide to reframe it and be grateful for the healthy competition, then there’s no other way to go but to grow and expand your game.
This post has been amended and expanded from the original version, which was written by Jenn for Girls Soccer Network and published on October 13, 2021. You can read it here.
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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