| A good pre-game routine is vital to playing a good | | | | you're doing during the other 87 minutes of the |
| soccer game. Unfortunately, many players don't | | | | game is essential to your team's success on the |
| know what they need to do, or they neglect to | | | | pitch. |
| develop a good routine. | | | | This ability to focus intensely on the game is what |
| Both mental and physical pre-game rituals are | | | | separates the good players from the great players. |
| necessary to help you play your best. Here are some | | | | You could play well for 89 minutes, but if you have |
| of the tips and tactics our technical coaches use to | | | | an opportunity to score in that last minute and you're |
| keep soccer boarding school students in top mental | | | | not prepared, it could mean the difference between |
| and physical shape: | | | | winning and losing the game. |
| Soccer boarding school tip: Warming up | | | | When you're physically exhausted, it's even more |
| When you get up in the morning before a game, be | | | | important to be mentally strong in order to maintain |
| aware of how you feel. See if you have any | | | | your level of play. |
| soreness in your body. Your team warm-up routine | | | | "Mental imagery" is one mental tactic that we |
| should cover all key areas, but you may need to do | | | | encourage in our soccer boarding school students. |
| some additional stretching to hit any problem points | | | | The basic concept of mental imagery is to create or |
| you may have. | | | | recreate soccer techniques or experiences while |
| For pre-game drills, start out nice and easy with | | | | engaged in relaxed deep breathing or meditation. It |
| some light running and stretching to warm up your | | | | seeks to familiarize and mentally perfect actual |
| body. Once you're ready, move on to dynamic | | | | soccer skills in the "mind's eye" of players. Studies |
| stretching - movements relating to specific game | | | | have shown that this mental technique, if practiced |
| motions, such as jumping and lifting the knees. Follow | | | | regularly, can have a powerful impact on a soccer |
| it up with more static stretching. | | | | player's overall performance. |
| For a group warm-up, do some passing drills with | | | | Visualize yourself correctly completing a soccer move |
| your teammates in groups of two or three. Just | | | | or skill. Just pull it up in your mind and go through it a |
| keep it easy to loosen your body up and connect | | | | few times whenever you have a moment, like when |
| with the ball. | | | | you're lying in bed before falling asleep. This "mental |
| For the thirty minutes before the game, all you're | | | | rehearsing" tactic can actually help you come game |
| doing is warming up your body and making sure that | | | | time. |
| you're physically and mentally ready to go into a | | | | Also, increase your understanding of the "beautiful |
| full-blown match. Work hard during your drills, but | | | | game." Watch televised professional matches. Read |
| don't exhaust yourself. Save your energy for the | | | | soccer magazines. Keep up with soccer blogs and |
| game. | | | | websites. Become a student of the game. The more |
| Soccer boarding school tip: Mental preparation | | | | familiar you are with formations, patterns and off the |
| Preparing mentally for a soccer match is just as | | | | ball movement, the better you will understand the |
| important as preparing physically. More than many | | | | game and the better your performance will ultimately |
| other sports, soccer is a mental contest. The game's | | | | be. |
| lightning-fast pace requires players to make | | | | These tips and tactics give our soccer boarding |
| split-second decisions and act creatively. | | | | school students an edge before they ever hit the |
| There are 22 players on the field, so that means | | | | pitch. Take some time to develop a good pre-game |
| during a 90 minute match, the average player | | | | routine for yourself, so you can give a pro |
| touches the ball for less than three minutes. What | | | | performance in your next match! |