| One of the biggest challenges that young soccer | | | | The first thing you can do is provide the player a set |
| players face is the issue of inner dialogue or self talk. | | | | of easily remembered words to use as they tried to |
| By this I mean the inner narrative that goes through | | | | make sense of the very fluid game. Phrases like "we |
| players had unconsciously or somewhat consciously | | | | clear the ball wide and up the side", repeated often in |
| as the game unfolds in front of them. A lot of things | | | | practice and during games and during |
| go into what a player here since I better head. | | | | question-and-answer sessions make it easy for the |
| Depending on their background and upbringing and | | | | player to remember what to do in that tactical |
| culture and the nature of your coaching, they can | | | | situation. Consistency, repetition and memorable |
| hear very different things going on and this will have | | | | phrases give your players the tools they need to |
| an important impact on how they play the game and | | | | shape their own internal dialogue. |
| how they experience the game as they continue to | | | | The next important thing you can do is to set the |
| develop. | | | | tone for how to approach the results of their |
| If your coaching style is aggressive and judgmental | | | | efforts. Remember that the game of soccer is so |
| and directed towards the person, it would not be | | | | dynamic and volatile that our plans rarely come off |
| surprising for the player self talk to also be | | | | without a hitch. We should expect the ball to take |
| aggressive and judgmental. This can create feelings | | | | funny bounces and for other players to make |
| of intimidation and pressure on the field. This would | | | | surprising plays. Our mindset should be one of |
| make it difficult for the player to relax and enjoy the | | | | positive initiative, trying to do the best we can and |
| game and to be in the kind of creative mood that is | | | | then accepting the results, and moving onto the next |
| ideal for expressing themselves on the field. | | | | play without being judgmental. In this way we have |
| We can affect the self talk in a couple of important | | | | an opportunity to help our players seize the moment |
| ways. I consider to be one of the most important | | | | and enjoy the beautiful game. |
| coaching obligations especially with younger players to | | | | Self talk is an important part of the young players |
| help them develop the inner resources that enable | | | | emotional resilience and personal development. It's a |
| them to deal with the pressures of the game and | | | | psychological part of the game that coaches should |
| their life. | | | | pay special attention to. |