Here’s How to Focus Less on Winning and Focus on Self Improvement

Deep down, we all know that the way to get better at soccer is to focus on self-improvement and NOT on winning and scoring goals. But when we get to game day, that’s a heck of a lot easier said than done because, of course, WE WANT TO WIN.

So, how exactly do we, as soccer players, stop overly focusing on winning and scoring and shift our game-day objectives to a pursuit of constant self-improvement? Let’s talk about it.

Results-based expectations

Expectations are everywhere, especially expectations based on game results. Whether they are internal expectations you put on yourself to win or score or external expectations from parents, coaches, or others, they can be hard to get out from under.

A results-based expectation is a judgment or demand you place on yourself and your performance focused on achieving a specific outcome or result. Results-based expectations are not good for your confidence. Since confidence is trust in your ability to perform and succeed, if you are only focused on winning or scoring, your confidence will take a hit every time you don’t accomplish those things.

So when you stop focusing on winning and scoring and move away from results-based expectations, you can improve your game at a faster rate and grow your confidence.

Process goals

The key to stopping focusing on winning and scoring is to pick a new way to win. Redefine it. Really.

Redefining what success looks like for you on game day is a huge step forward when it comes to shifting your focus AND improving your game in the process. One great way to do this is to focus on process goals and the smaller pieces of your game.

Process goals are goals or objectives that focus on manageable pieces of your soccer game. They are specific actions that you can take during a game. They are controllable–meaning you have the power to do them EVERY game, yourself. It doesn’t matter if you’re having a good game or a bad game; it doesn’t matter what your teammates are doing or what the opponent is doing. Controllable objectives are things YOU have complete control over and can do if you choose to do them. Here are some examples:

• pressuring to delay
• movement off the ball
• making runs
• communicating
• staying engaged and on your toes
• scanning and checking your shoulder
• urgency on transition
• effort
• checking both sides of the field for opportunity

Using process goals and controllable objectives works best if you pre-plan and think about what success looks like for you BEFORE heading into a soccer match (here’s a worksheet to help soccer players do just that). The reason for this is that when you head into a game with very specific goals in mind (controllable and achievable no matter the game result), you are setting yourself up to be able to have success regardless of if you get the W or not, regardless of if you score or not.

Growing your confidence

You may be wondering how does focusing on self-improvement help grow your confidence. Simple.

Your confidence increases when you trust and believe in yourself, right? And your trust and belief in yourself grow when you succeed with your goals and meet your personal objectives. If your objectives and goals are always to win, well – you’re not always going to win, so you can see where this is going.

But if your internal expectations are NOT focused on results and instead on smaller pieces of your game (controllable objectives), and you start working towards these at games, you will find yourself achieving them often (as long as you’re working towards them), thereby increasing your belief in yourself to achieve what you set out to achieve. Why will you achieve these things more? Because they are CONTROLLABLE. They are things that you can do alone, for yourself. Winning and scoring–those have other people involved. Other people whose actions you cannot control.

When you redefine winning and shift your focus away from results-based expectations and onto process goals and things you can control, you are setting yourself up for success in multiple ways. Not only will your mindset improve, but you’ll also be playing better soccer and MORE CONFIDENT soccer.

And here’s the BIG secret. The best way to score is to forget about scoring. The best way to win is to forget about winning. Why? Because when you focus on process goals and controllable objectives, you are present, focused, and in the moment.

When thinking about scoring and winning, your mind is in the future, thinking about something that hasn’t happened yet. When your mind isn’t present, you cannot perform and access all the stuff you need RIGHT NOW to play well. Hence, the best way to achieve self-improvement is to forget about scoring.

Featured image via Adobe Stock Images

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