the tuesday transition - issue 41
February 7, 2023: Today I want to talk about a big misconception that a lot of soccer players have. A misconception that, if reframed and looked at differently, can COMPLETELY change how you show up at tryouts and scouted events.
When players head into any sort of environment where they are being watched and evaluated by coaches and scouts, many of them tend to believe that they need to play perfectly and not make mistakes. Not only is this not true, but the pressure that they put on themselves to perform this way has potential to massively impact their performance – and NOT in a good way!
Coaches/Scouts are NOT looking for players who don't make mistakes! They just aren't.
They ARE looking for players who are adaptable, fierce and put in MAX effort to recover and keep going IMMEDIATELY after something doesn’t go as planned. They are looking for players that push themselves. Players that don’t stay small, players that play creatively, courageously and with max effort. Players that are always focused on the next action and have the ability to stay present moment focused and fully engaged, EVEN AFTER MISTAKES.
Coaches and scouts are looking accountable players, players who take responsibility for their actions on the field by playing with intensity and urgency in the moments that it is necessary. They are looking for flexible players that can bend and flow with the ups and downs of the game.
Playing with the goal of not making mistakes does a few things to your game. First, it limits you and holds you back. When you play to not make mistakes, you are never able to play to your full potential – because playing to your full potential (creativity, courageously and top physicality) does come with the potential of ‘errors’, as is the nature of the game. Once you are able to understand this, that the game is NOT SUPPOSED to be perfect, you release yourself from that heavy burden and then and only then, can you actually play your best.
The second thing that playing with the goal of not making mistakes does to your game is that it gets you caught up in this never-ending loop of feeling inadequate and like a failure. This is because, when you hold yourself to an impossibly high, unrealistic standard of perfection, YOU CAN NEVER MEET YOUR STANDARD. You can’t meet it because it’s impossible to play perfectly all the time. It’s impossible to play perfectly all the time because there are many, many, many elements on the field that are outside of your control. Even if you were the best player in the world, this expectation would not be possible to achieve.
Lastly, players that play with the goal of not making mistakes can look timid and lack a presence of confidence. Coaches and scouts don’t want to see that. What they WANT to see is you pushing yourself and maximizing your effort and talent, even if that means making mistakes. They don’t want to see you keeping yourself small by playing overly cautiously – they DO want to see you playing your heart out and then recovering with intensity and trying again when the mistakes do inevitably happen.
You cannot exude full-out confidence while your mind is preoccupied with being worried about mistakes. These things are not possible to achieve simultaneously.
Coaches and scouts want to see you push yourself. They want to see you make an impact. They want to see DIFFERENCE MAKERS.
The truth is that with pushing yourself, making an impact and being a difference maker, YES there is risk of mistakes, that’s part of the game. Now if you let the mistake completely shut you down and take your head out of the game, that’s not what they want to see. But if you just keep rolling with it and adjust your game, have a ‘what’s next’ mentality and keep your head in the present moment all while maximizing your effort and giving your all – THAT IS WHAT THEY WANT TO SEE.
Just some food for thought this week ๐
Happy Tuesday everyone,
๐ What I’m digging: Every soccer parent on this email list, PLEASE READ THIS: My Daughter Quit Sports, What Youth Sports Parents Need to Know
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๐ฉ๐ฝโ๐ป What I’m reading: Do ya’ll remember back at the beginning of the EPL season when Man U was causing all the drama? Now its Man City’s turn.
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๐ง What I’m listening to: If you haven’t seen this Drive & Listen site, it’s really cool. Street views of cities from around the world + radio listens!
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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