Why Some Kids Excel in Training But Struggle in Matches
Performance anxiety is an extremely common issue for young athletes. We’ve met plenty of dedicated and hard-working young soccer players who just can’t seem to relax and focus during the actual match. At practice, they’re a star. But it when it comes time to perform in front of a crowd, it’s like you’re watching a completely different person.
Why does this happen?
In most cases, it’s not because the athlete isn’t confident in their own skills. It’s because they are not in a mindset that allows them to perform just as well as they would at practice. So, let’s go over what may be preventing your athlete from getting into this mindset when match time comes:
The Difference Between Training and Matches
Training with a soccer team is an entirely different experience than playing in a match. You are in a familiar environment with people you know, and you have a pretty clear idea of what’s about to happen. In a match, there are people you don’t know, and you’re less certain about what could unfold. The difference in environment can be very unnerving, especially for those who already struggle with anxiety.
Athletes who excel in training can be particularly conscious of this difference. The fulfillment they get out of training may not be as apparent in a match. In practice, there is less pressure about mistakes than there is in games – at all levels. While they play freely in practice, the fear of mistakes takes over in games and they just can’t play their natural way.
To that end, another major environmental difference between practice and matches is the presence of families. Many children have a very hard time performing in the company of loved ones. Maybe they enjoy training for this exact reason. It’s not uncommon for players to play better for half a game when they are on the far side of the field from the parents (or visa-versa for the coach sometimes too).
Regardless of what’s making them uncomfortable, it has the same effect. When the match is underway, the player immediately thinks to themself, “This isn’t fun. Why am I doing this?”.
Helping Your Athlete Feel Comfortable in Competition
A match is different than training, but it’s still soccer. There are certain things that training and matches have in common. The key is to figure out what it is about training you love so you can find that same element in the match.
At Beyond Goals Mentoring, we refer to this process as finding your “why.” Odds are, the reason you love training is the same reason you love soccer in the first place. So, why do you love soccer? Is it the constant activity, and the effect it has on your body? Is it the connection you have with your teammates, and how great it feels to help them succeed?
Whatever your “why” may be, focusing on the element of soccer that brings you joy can help you relax during matches. Instead of getting overwhelmed by environmental differences, remember why you continue to show up for training day after day. When you know exactly what fulfills you, you can find it in a match.
As two retired pros, we know how important it is for a player to find their “why” as early as possible. We’ve helped several youth athletes conquer performance anxiety by routinely tapping into their “why” at the start of each match. So, if your child excels in training but struggles to perform in matches, let’s set up a mentoring session so we can identify exactly which part of soccer will fuel them to succeed.
