How To Deal with Performance Anxiety as a Soccer Player
Feeling nervous before a game has happened to about every athlete in their life. Getting the jitters is fine every now and then. This is a sign to your body to get ready to work and can work as adrenaline. For some soccer players, a little amount of worrying can even be helpful in competition. But if you have trouble overcoming those jitters and it reaches a point where it starts to impact your game, you may be suffering from performance anxiety.
But don’t worry. Even the pros have experienced performance anxiety, and it is something you can work on and overcome. Take OL Reign’s Bethany Balcer, for example. The forward opened up back in 2020 about her mental health, being in the bubble this season, and how it affected her game.
— Bethany Balcer (@bethanybalcer) July 13, 2020
Balcer was brave to speak out and discuss all that she was facing and to talk about her mental health. But she didn’t let that game or that moment of panic get the best of her. In the next match against the Chicago Red Stars, she overcame her anxieties. After having a scoreless game, the forward stepped up and took one of the club’s penalty kicks — putting it past the formidable Alyssa Naeher!
Bethany Balcer is just one soccer player that faces anxiety and has the courage to speak about it; she’s continued to advocate for mental health in sports.
So how can you work on managing your anxiety?
Telling yourself to stop stressing, not worry, or just relax doesn’t help, nor is it a great strategy. It provides no sort of real action or direction for you to take. Instead, we have a couple of recommendations that may help you once again find your zen:
- Make sure you practiced enough. This will help you build the confidence needed during competition.
- Before traveling to an “away” game, ask friends or family to be there to root you on.
- Learn and practice mindfulness behavior. Mindfulness behaviors help immerse you in the moment without analyzing or judging how you are playing. Some of these strategies include:
- Breathing – deep breaths can help calm you down and bring you into the present
- Guided imagery – close your eyes and imagine the sights and sounds of a place you find relaxing.
- Stay positive! Ask your teammates and coach for positive feedback. This can help with increasing self-esteem and lessen any negative thoughts.
If you do find that your anxiety symptoms are severe and do not improve, talk to a parent or someone you trust. Then, see if you can speak with a doctor or therapist and ensure your concerns are being met.
Feature image via Adobe Stock @wolandmaster
_
GIRLS SOCCER NETWORK: YOUR SOURCE FOR GIRLS SOCCER NEWS
Girls Soccer Network
Your source for girls soccer news
