Mental Preparation for Soccer, England vrs Slovenia World Cup 2010
England needed to improve their game to make it through to the final sixteen in the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The disappointing results of their previous first-round matches had led to supporters booing them off the pitch and as a team, they appeared to be buckling under pressure. So, with the pressure of everything riding on their final first-round match, where did their winning performance come from? Was it just a simple case of things coming good on the day or was something different about their physical and mental preparation that helped them to pull together as a team and then pull a great performance out of the bag?
Much has been made in the press of England’s “pre-match beer” and manager Fabio Capello’s relaxation of his alcohol ban. Capello said, “They were allowed to drink beer before the game, you can ask them. It’s true. I changed something and used my imagination.” From a sports psychology point of view, the key word in Capello’s statement is “changed.”
Ringing the changes
If you want things to be different; if you want your circumstances to change, you have to do something different, you have to make changes. If you continue to do the same things, you continue to get the same results. Clearly, England’s results were below expectation so something had to change. Capello said he used his “imagination” and that demonstrates beautifully the importance of not only doing things differently but also of thinking about things differently. Pre-match preparation is not just physical, mental preparation is equally important and in England’s case, it proved crucial.
Capello’s managing style is described as “strict.” In interviews, the players have commented on his insistence that rules must be adhered to and his inflexibility was rumoured to be causing friction in the England camp. But, Capello himself commented that the team he saw out on the pitch in England’s first two matches was not the team he knew. He said the players in that team had “no spirit” but after their winning third match performance he said, “I have my team back.” As manager, he recognised the need for change. He recognised that continuing to do things the same way would cause the players to think and therefore perform the same way: a way that was holding the team back from achieving its true potential.
“The ability to summon positive human emotions during periods of intense stress lies at the heart of effective leadership” - Jim Loehr
Jim Loehr is a world-renowned performance psychologist. He believes the key to team success lies in ensuring every player is “fully engaged.” Players who are fully engaged bring their best energy to the team. He says, “Full engagement is the pathway to extraordinary performance.” Players who are not fully engaged bring negative energy to the team, they become “disengaged” and in sports psychology terms, the end result is a team without team spirit. Familiar?
Taking control
Breaking the routine by relaxing the “rules” appears to have been the “change” the England team players needed. In fact, whether the players chose to down a shandy or two is immaterial, as I believe it was simply having the option that made the difference. In terms of mental preparation, relaxing the rules gave back ‘freedom of choice.’ Up until that point, the players appeared to have forgotten that the only person who could choose whether they should be fully engaged or disengaged on the pitch was themselves. Maybe it was the beer that boosted their performance but I suspect it was the change in Capello’s approach that prompted the return of England’s team spirit. Makes me wonder what rules might be relaxed next?
“It’s not the sex which tires out young players, it’s the staying up all night looking for it”
- Clemens Westerhof, Nigeria manager 1994 World Cup
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World Cup 2010, Who would be a Goalie ? Dealing with mistakes.
Even if you have no interest in soccer, there’s every chance you’ve heard of Robert Green. But, in case you’ve been hiding out in a cave to escape the 2010 FIFA World Cup football frenzy, Robert Green is the England goalkeeper who fumbled the ball pretty spectacularly, allowing a run of the mill shot at goal by Clint Dempsey of the USA to hit the back of the net. The result was a 1 - 1 draw in a match that England could have won. So how do you put a mistake you’ve made in front of the whole world behind you; how do you move on when the world’s press are having a field day at your expense, and you’re now the butt of every global text and email joke in circulation? In this case, mental preparation will be key.
Robert Green didn’t let his mistake upset the rest of his game. His mental preparation allowed him to put it instantly behind him and to focus on the job in hand. He said, “I didn’t let it affect my performance. It’s about mental strength and worse things have happened to people. You go through mental preparation the night before a game and prepare for moments of trauma in a game when it happens.” His ability to pick up the pieces and perform well for the rest of the game clearly demonstrated his strength of character and the effectiveness of his mental skill training. But what happens next?
Could the negative press surrounding Green’s performance have an effect on his next performance? Mistakes are only ever mistakes if we can’t learn from them and move on. Judging by his post-match statements, he’s already there: “It was my mistake and I’m responsible. I’ve made errors before and I’ve been big enough to get over them, and I will this one.” One thing is for sure, his mental preparation for the next match will be absolutely crucial to his performance.
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World Cup 2010: Mental Skills Matters
It takes physical and mental skills to cope with the intense pressures created by top level international competition, so only those in peak physical and mental condition will survive. England have not won the World Cup since 1966 - that’s 44 years ago - yet every English team in every World Cup tournament ever since has continued to carry the hopes and dreams of every loyal English fan who believes the team of that year will be THE team to bring the World Cup trophy home gain. That’s a lot of added pressure in an already high pressure environment.
The game of football has changed since 1966 so there seems little value in making any sort of comparison between then and now but in the build up to every World Cup tournament, that’s precisely what every newspaper, website, and TV show will do. In 1966 the England team manager was Alf Ramsey, a man described at the time as “urbane and stubborn.” Every England manager since 1966 has been compared to and judged by Ramsey’s standards - remember, that’s 44 years ago! - so the legacy of the big win lives on, but is it a good thing for the England team today?
Today, it takes considerable mental skill to remain “stubborn” and to have unwavering courage in your convictions when an entire nation are at liberty to tell you you’re doing it wrong. Current England manager Fabio Capello clearly understands the power of mental skills training. He says, “In my career as a manager, I’ve built teams, worked with teams, worked with players, and always I’ve been focused to win. That’s all that matters to me…in my mind we play to win.” Mental skills training matters. It takes self-belief and a positive mental attitude to maintain a winning mentality in the face of constant criticism.
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2010 World Cup. Great teams rise to the top.
It’s well known that negative feedback can affect a players performance. Brazil weren’t favourites to win in 1970. They hadn’t played well in 1966 and it seemed the majority of their supporters doubted the teams ability to improve on that performance. Even their coach questioned their abilities to form an effective team because he considered the top players to be too similar in their abilities. In sports psychology terms, the players were subject to a great deal of negative external feedback.
So how did they prevent that negativity from affecting their performance? A change of coach in the last few months before the start of the 1970 World Cup gave players the opportunity to make decisions - decisions that provided a powerful source of positive internal feedback, and in effect defined the team. Adjustments were made and playing positions changed to create a team that made the very most of its strengths.
That’s the key right there, the team made decisions. The players - that powerful mix of seasoned professionals with top level experience and youthful talent with boundless energy - worked with their coach to develop a team in which everyone could play to the best of their ability; a team that they, the players and their coach, could believe in. They knew their strengths, they believed in their abilities, and they went out there knowing what they had to do as a team. Sports psychology wasn’t a common practice in 1970 but what they achieved is now known in sports psychology terms as team spirit.
If you’re a coach hoping to produce a winning team, understanding the importance of developing the sort of team spirit seen in the World Cup winning team of 1970 is crucial. Sports psychology 2 can show you how.
NLP Sports Coaching - Pelé Power
“Everything is practice” - Pelé
Brazilian born Pelé, arguably the greatest soccer player ever with a career history of 1281 goals scored in 1360 games believed that everything in his life was practice for the game. So what does practice mean to someone with such natural talent lets explore using a NLP Sports Model?
Dictionary definition: practice > verb 1 perform (an activity) or exercise (a skill) repeatedly in order to improve or maintain proficiency in it. 2 carry out or perform (an activity or custom) habitually or regularly.
Coca-Cola once ran an advertising campaign to coincide with a World Cup: ‘Eat football, sleep football, drink Coca-Cola.’ To a soccer player like Pelé, practice means eating, sleeping, and drinking football. In fact, during his career, every thought and every action, every moment of every day remained focussed on what he coined ‘the beautiful game.’ Practice was not something limited to training sessions, practice was a routine habit.
Some of Pele’s talents may have been inherited from his father who was also a professional player but at the age of five he was already practicing his skills and scoring goals in matches he played with other street kids. They had no shoes, and they had no ball either - the soccer ball was a sock stuffed with newspaper, or a melon. So, anyone believing that sports success comes easily to those born into it or from a privileged enough background to have access to all the best equipment, think on! Pelé worked as a shoe-shine boy to save enough money to buy a proper soccer ball - a good example of ‘thinking’ soccer to be able to play soccer.
Practice makes perfect
In his book Outliers, author Malcolm Gladwell states that it takes 10 000 hours of dedicated practice to become a world class master of a skill, any skill. That translates into 3 hours a day for 10 years, or 10 hours a day for 3 years. Just think about that for a moment - how much training time do you put in on a daily basis? Mind-boggling isn’t it? Pelé’s quote about everything being practice now becomes an important and powerful message for anyone who wants to reach the top of their game.
Mental skill practice
Sports psychology 2 promotes dedicated practice in the form of mental skills training to help get the most out of physical training. Elite athletes not only have to be at the top of their game physically to be competitive but also mentally to have that winning ‘edge’ over others. It also stands to reason that if every hour of training is purely physical, injuries are more likely to occur.
So how did a ‘natural’ talent like Pelé practice? Well, he played a lot of soccer matches for a start! His superior physical skills were the result of practicing what spectators believed to be ‘natural’ talents but the key to his phenomenal success as a player lies with his mindset. Pelé continually strove for perfection, he never sat back and rested on his laurels, he was considered “the best player in the world” throughout his career yet he always looked to achieve more - he maintained a growth mindset.
Mindset
Fixed mindset : An athlete with a fixed mindset believes they’re stuck with their lot. They see talent or ability as just something they’re born with and, for good or bad, that’s just the way things are. In a fixed mindset, athletes are quick to judge themselves harshly when faced with defeat and will often suffer exaggerated feelings of depression or anxiety. However, if talents are seen as ‘natural gifts,’ a successful athlete might also display an exaggerated sense of superiority, and feel they’re above the need to practice.
Growth mindset : An athlete with a growth mindset believes that change is always possible and that with dedicated effort and practice, performance can always be improved. It was Pelé’s growth mindset that allowed him to reach his full potential - and to continue pushing the boundaries of what that potential was!
Don’t let your mindset hold you back. Sports psychology 2 can help you discover what your current thinking is and, here’s the really good news, show you how to realise your own ‘Pelé power’ by developing a growth mindset of your own.
“Pelé called me the greatest footballer in the world. That is the ultimate salute to my life” - George Best
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Mind’s-eye of the Tiger
Mind’s-eye of the Tiger
Well, let’s be honest, Tiger Woods is unlikely to win ‘Husband of the Year’ in the near future but how do you rate his chances of winning the Masters when he returns to competitive golf after nearly five months away from the game?
Tiger Woods is one of the most recognisable figures in the world, known to sports fans and non-sports fans alike. As an outstanding golfer, he’s no stranger to media attention but after a very public scandal, he knows the eyes of the world will be on him for different reasons. With media and public attention focussed on his personal life, will he be able to remain focussed on his golf?
In terms of career victories, Woods is in third position in the all-time PGA Tour rankings, with only Sam Snead and Jack Nicklaus ahead of him, so his ability as a player is beyond question. However, he has twice before come back to the game after a lengthy lay-off and with mixed results. In 2006 his performance suffered after the death of his father but in 2008 he won, despite playing on a seriously injured knee. This highlights how important it is for competitive sports players to be mentally prepared as well as physically prepared before making a return to play.
Mind Control
American golf writer Ian O’Connor believes that Tiger Woods’ return to golf will create unprecedented interest in this year’s Masters at Augusta. With this being the case, it begs the question why Woods should choose such a major event to make his return? According to former golf pro Arnold Palmer, Augusta is in fact a wise choice as the venue affords the organisers, and the players, a great deal of control over external factors that might affect the game.
“Augusta is the one place in the world where you can really have control. They will control everything from the crowds to the situation that will be facing Tiger”
- Arnold Palmer
A mentally prepared competitor knows that worrying about external factors out with their control is counterproductive. But, with the potential for intrusive media interest, Tiger Woods no doubt views Augusta as his best opportunity to focus on his game without distractions.
With external factors under control, Woods will then need to utilise a number of sports psychology techniques to remain in control of internal factors.
Visualisation Tiger Woods will have played every hole on the course countless time through visualisation. He will know the best course of action to take under every set of circumstances - no shot he plays on the day will cause a surprise (not to him anyway!), allowing him to feel in total control of every aspect of his performance. He will not only have seen every shot in his mind’s-eye, he will have felt every tiny detail of his body position through every swing he takes, and he will have heard the sound of the ball as it rolls into the cup each time.
Positive self-talk When you already know that not everyone in the crowd is on your side, positive self-talk becomes invaluable. An ability to boost your own confidence and to keep yourself motivated, even in a potentially negative environment, allows you to remain totally focussed on the job in hand.
Positive mental attitude / Winning mentality Tiger Woods knows what he’s capable of, he knows he has prepared, he knows he’s ready, and he knows he’s in winning form. Positive thoughts lead to positive actions - he’ll be letting his actions do the talking.
“I can promise you he’s not going to come out if he’s trying to play his way into shape, especially at Augusta - he will be ready, mark my words”
- Jay Townsend, BBC golf pundit
Having recently apologised to just about everyone on the surface of the earth - and their dog - he’ll be out there making sure he doesn’t owe himself an apology for playing anything other than his best.
http://www.sportspsychology2.com/
What do you fill your head with ?
Talking S*** in your head ?
I was training with a group of young soccer players in California talking about mental skills for soccer and the things that hold us back from playing a great game. And the conversation kept on coming back to “Worry”. Worried if I am good enough , worried if I make a mistake, worried that we will win. All this gets in the way of playing the game of your life.
Than it came to me, I asked the boys to gather round as I would tell them what worry actually is and not a mumbo jumbo sports psychology definintion ! And as they came closer and closer looking at me with intent I encouraged them to come closer still. Then I whispered worry is…worry is…”talking s**** in your heads” and after a little pause everyone laughed and got it.
Worry does nothing positive it performs no useful function ! it keeps us from our best. Its that little voice that makes fears bigger, not always easy to stop but if we see it for what is it ..Talking Shit in our head we can laugh and raise it up to a concern and then do something’s about it. For example.
If I am worried I might not be fit enough I stay In my head even more and probably don’t do anything about it. just think about how unfit I may compare myself to other people over and over.
If I move that up to a concern I get my training shoes on and go out for a run, I take action or I do a few push ups or sit ups, Or I call Johnny and see if he will go down the park for a game.
Worry gives nothing constructive it paralyses you , move it to concern and we can take action.
So remember see it for what is it and Laugh when you start talking S*** to yourself, you are better than that !!!
Finding Your Rhythm
“The earth seemed to move with me…a fresh rhythm entered my body. No longer conscious of my movement I discovered a new unity with nature…a new source of power and beauty, a source I never knew existed.” Roger Bannister
One of the iconic images and ground breaking moments of 20th century sport was Roger Banister breaking the 4 minute mile barrier. His description of what it is like to find that place inside you, that is calm, in the midst of the storm of competition only re-inforces the power of sport and performance as a vehicle of self expression and freedom of the spirit. NLP and Sports psychology encourages you to explore those internal barriers that may be holding you back from smashing through or even gently easing into flow and your next level.
What is your four minute mile ?
Artist of Life
“For those who want to know, I am a martial artist by choice, an actor by profession(which to me is an expressive revelation and/or learning of myself), and I am actualizing myself daily to be an artist of life as well” Bruce Lee
As I wake up today I reflect on how I can bring my energy into the world to create something unique which brings me closer to goals, serves others and grows me as a person. Athlete and artist of life are one…
What will you focus on today ?
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Go to http://www.donmacnaughton.org
Sport Psychology Essential Elements
The Best Team Won
“Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do” Pele
The ‘healthy mind, healthy body’ philosophy dates back to ancient Greek and Chinese civilisations. The study of sport psychology and how the mind affects a sportsperson’s body has developed in much more recent times but, even without such deep historical roots, it has grown quickly into a recognised and significant part of the science of sports performance.
In its widest sense, sport psychology encompasses all areas of exercise, fitness and leisure, not just competitive sport, but in terms of competition results, what are the factors that lead us to the conclusion that the best team won on the day?
The team holding the trophy are undoubtedly the winners but there’s much more to getting your hands on the prize than simply turning up on the day and hoping you play better than the other team. Without appropriate levels of fitness and physical preparation, the chances of playing well are instantly limited but equal emphasis must also be placed upon mental fitness and preparation if a top performance is to be realised.
Here are some frequently heard comments made by sports commentators:
“He seems to be struggling to find his form today.”
The winner, “…just wanted it more.”
“They’re all over the place; there doesn’t seem to be any spirit in the team.”
“There’s no sparkle; she seems to be just going through the motions.”
“His focus would appear to be on picking fights with officials rather than on his game.”
“That missed shot seems to have shaken his confidence; he’s struggled to regain concentration since then.”
Now here’s a list of proven sport psychology, or mental skill, techniques that can help to ensure those comments are never true of your own or your team’s performance:
Goal Setting
Setting a course towards the ‘big event’ and progressively working through a series of lesser events, or smaller goals strategically placed in a training schedule, will ensure you achieve your peak performance when it really counts.
Understanding Motivation
By learning what motivates you, you can prepare a training schedule that will keep you going even when the going gets tougher! Understanding motivation is an important part of the goal setting process.
Understanding ‘Mindset’
In a nutshell, the term ‘Mindset’ describes an individual’s view of who and what they are. A person with a ‘fixed mindset’ holds the belief that they are what they are and nothing will change that. A person with a ‘growth mindset’ holds the belief that change is always possible and that nothing is set in stone. In a sports environment, a fixed mindset leaves no room for learning new skills or improving performance through making changes. It could also lead to a successful athlete resting on their laurels in the mistaken belief that they don’t need to work at their skills - as they’re a given! Promoting a growth mindset is therefore of vital importance if athletes are to thrive through continued learning and the mastering of new skills.
Developing Team Spirit
‘There’s no I in team,’ or so the saying goes. There’s also a great comedy come-back to that line that goes, ‘But there are four in platitude quoting idiot.’ It goes without saying that an effective team must devote a large proportion of training time to the actual physical practise of perfecting their skills as a unit. However, an effective coach will also recognise the need to utilise the learned skills of goal setting and understanding motivation for each individual player if a winning team is to be formed.
Visualisation
Learning how to visualise a positive outcome under any set of circumstances is key to preparing any sportsperson in any sport for the pressures of competition. A vision of exactly what it takes to create a winning performance must be clear in the athlete’s mind’s-eye and there should be no surprises on the day! Negative external factors such as poor weather or noisy crowds will no longer have the power to break concentration or focus when visualisation techniques, along with the ability to use positive self-talk, have been mastered.
Here’s the question, “Why are some athletes able to rise to the occasion and perform well under pressure when others seem to lose the plot?”
The answer? Ask a sports psychologist!
© Don MacNaughton 2009
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