15 Reasons Why You Aren’t Succeeding as a Soccer Player

Are you feeling frustrated with your progress as a soccer player? You aren’t alone. Many young athletes feel this too!

With that said, there are common traits that players possess when they feel “stuck”.

Even as adults, we can feel like we are in a rut.

To dig yourself out of it, you need to be aware of what’s holding you back. Here they are…

1. Warped Definition of Success: You need to understand that you won’t be the best right away. You just need to be the best you. Stop comparing yourself to others and define your definition of success.
2. Lack of Proper Training: Without consistent training, you will get better at a snail’s pace. Work on the basics consistently.
3. Poor Nutrition: Bad eating habits can affect your energy levels, stamina, and performance. Junk food equals a physically and mentally slower player. Eat your fruits, veggies, and nuts.
4. Poor Sleep Habits: Not getting enough rest and recovery time can lead to fatigue. Try to get at least eight hours of sleep. Make this a habit.
5. Low Confidence: Getting better starts with believing you can. A lack of self-belief can result in hesitancy and underperformance during games and practices. Don’t think you’ll get better, know you’ll get better.
6. Bad Time Management: Struggling to balance school and your personal life can leak into soccer. When you have so much on your mind, your performance suffers.
7. Lack of Passion: Maybe you don’t have a passion for soccer anymore. Without a love for the game, you may not be motivated to put in the hard work to improve.
8. Injury Problems: Frequent injuries can put a damper on your game. Take time to heal and be okay with it. It’s part of the process. Use this time to work on your mental game.
9. Poor Coaching: Everyone experiences coaches they don’t like sometimes. Try to overcome this by having tunnel vision on yourself. Be accountable for yourself and don’t rely on the coach for your development.
10. Mental Weakness: Your inability to handle pressure and certain situations will hold you back. Remember, it’s never the “end of the world“.
11. Doing Too Many Things: If you want to succeed as a soccer player, you need to put in the daily effort. If you spread yourself too thin, you won’t get the results. It’s a sacrifice to get better.
12. Pessimistic Attitude: A bad attitude can affect a lot of things in life. In soccer, it can create tension with teammates and coaches. Try to be a player with a positive outlook.
13. You Are Not in Shape: No matter how good your skills are, if you don’t have the engine finely tuned, you will not succeed. Without good physical conditioning, you may struggle to keep up in games.
14. Not Knowing or Caring About the Game: Studying the game of soccer will help you elevate your game to new heights. Not fully grasping game tactics can lead to poor decision-making on the field.
15. Caring Too Much: Caring too much about what your parents or coaches think can affect your game. It will feel like a 1-ton boulder is on your shoulders. Focus on YOU. Your future self will thank you for it.

[Bonus] Prioritizing Your Phone Over the Soccer Ball: I see many young athletes with their heads down staring at their phones. Stop doom scrolling for 4+ hours every day. Drop the phone, pick up the ball.