One of the Best Kept Secrets For Playing Well in Soccer Games
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Did you know one of the best kept secrets for playing well doesn’t involve eating or sleeping? Don’t get me wrong, those are very important and necessary.
But, equally as important is getting your mind focused. This means staying off of your phone before games! ๐ This, in my opinion, is one of the secrets to playing well.
Hear me out…
Getting at least 8 hours of sleep is essential to maximizing your energy.
Eating properly the night before and day of the game is important to fuel your body.
Staying off your phone before a game will help reduce anxiety. It will also help reduce your Monkey Mind (aka scattered brain).
By doing all three things above, you set yourself up for success.
If one of these things isn’t in alignment, you will probably perform worse than you normally play.
I’ve seen it with my son.
He has the sleep and nutrition dialed in.
But, sometimes, he’ll scroll through social media like Instagram or TikTok before a game. In these games, he sometimes has a glazed look about him. I’ve seen it with other kids as well.
The Hard Rule – No Phone Before Games
To help combat my son scrolling through his phone before games, we’ve come up with a straightforward solution.
No screen time before games. This means that he leaves his phone somewhere in the house, hotel room, or car. He can check it periodically to make sure his Coach didn’t text something important.
This was a family decision that we came up with together. He prefers it because it sets a boundary. And, he has seen the ‘proof in the pudding’.
If you have a teenage athlete, I suggest you try this out. I do think if they can calm their minds before games, they will be better off.
Just try it for one game and see how it goes!
Written By: Beau Bridges
Beau is the founder of SoccerNovo, dedicated to helping players and parents navigate the youth soccer landscape. As a former youth coach and soccer parent, he shares insights on player development, recruiting, and the ever-evolving soccer scene in the U.S.
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