July 9, 2024: Having an error-focused mindset is crucial for growth and development as a soccer player. The tricky part is, we don’t want to be error-focused AND JUDGMENTAL…
We want to be error-focused, OBJECTIVELY 🤔
We want to be error-focused in a GROWTH-MINDED way 🌱
Meaning,
- We want to be able to watch game film and actively LOOK for the errors without beating ourselves up 👀
- We want to be in a training session and be alert to the inconsistencies, the pieces that need cleaned up, without criticizing ourselves and tearing ourselves down 🧹
- We want to be able to look back on our first half and pick out the parts that were less than stellar without wrecking our confidence 🫶🏾
Why? BECAUSE THIS IS HOW YOU GET REALLY GOOD REALLY FAST.
When you are on the look-out for errors, you find them quicker. And here’s the most important step (because it’s not just about finding them). What you do next is you PROBLEM SOLVE. You engage with the error. You get interested in the error.
YOU GET CURIOUS about the error.
As in – “OK, whenever I cross, the ball is not cutting back far enough to the runner and the GK is easily getting it. I’m not going to get mad at myself or be negative with myself here, but instead I’m going to investigate and figure out what I need to change in order for my crosses to be more effective. Maybe I need to get my hips around the ball more? Also, I think I need to be more intentional about who I’m aiming for. I’ll start with those two things and see what happens”.
training. Having an ‘error-focused mindset’ means training/playing at the edge of your ability (this comes from the book The Talent Code). You want to purposefully practice at this ‘edge’ where you kinda can, kinda can’t, do the thing.
When we train on this edge, we know that mistakes are coming, but that's a good thing. We stay very alert and LOOK for them so that when they do happen, we can immediately work to problem solve our way out and expand our game.
Here are the steps players can take to do this.
1) narrow in & focus your attention tightly on what you are doing so that you can find the error quickly. Once you do:
2) get curious
3) investigate
4) problem-solve
5) repeat
THIS ⬆️ is where accelerated growth comes from, NOT by doing simple things and staying comfortable. We get better faster when we challenge ourselves.We get better faster when we DECIDE that mistakes are OK, in fact they are more than OK, they are fantastic because they show us the EXACT roadmap for the way forward. This is deep, focused, deliberate practice and this is the KEY to accelerated growth, the KEY to growing your skill quickly.
So yes, I would say, WITH THE RIGHT MINDSET, obsessing over your mistakes can be a very, very good thing 🔥🏆⚽️
Till next time,
💎 What I’m digging: USL Super League is starting next month…….
👩🏽💻 What I’m reading: Just about everything having to do with USWNT right now, I’m SO EXCITED for the Olympics 🇺🇸
🎧 What I’m listening to: Found a wonderful new podcast ❤️ The Hardcore Self Help Podcast
Grow your confidence through preparedness.
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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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