Why the Mental Health of Young Soccer Players is No Joke

The life of an athlete is extremely demanding, regardless of how confident or talented they are. As if their rigorous training schedules weren’t exhausting enough, the pressure to perform and the fear of failure comes with tremendous stress.

As many high level soccer players have an incredible work ethic and levelheaded demeanor, it doesn’t look like they are under much stress at all. They go to practice, they go to school…it seems like everything is fine. But there’s a lot going on under the surface.

Though your athlete might not show it, the demands of their lifestyle takes a serious toll on their mental health. Stress is building up inside of them, and without adult intervention, they may eventually burn themselves out and quit sports entirely.

You can prevent this from happening by recognizing that your athlete’s mental health deserves constant attention. Here’s why:

Soccer Players are Constantly Chasing Perfection

Today’s soccer landscape is particularly competitive, and athletes know it. College programs only have room for the elite few. Athletes don’t get recruited by just being “good” and doing the bare minimum. They have to stand out and prove that their physical and technical abilities are worthy of these unbelievably selective programs. They feel that there can be no holes in their game.

When your athlete goes to practice, they’re not goofing off with their friends. They have to continuously elevate their game, their fitness, and their technical ability. The truth is, soccer isn’t a game you can ever be perfect at. Every player is always working at getting better.  

Soccer Players Can’t Just Relax When They’re Not Training

Even more stressful is the fact that it’s your athlete’s responsibility to promote themself and pique the interest of their dream school. Is your athlete a marketing expert? Do they understand the art of relationship building? Probably not, but this is yet another daunting challenge on their horizon.

So, when your athlete comes home from practice, they’re not just playing video games like all the other kids their age. They’re doing their schoolwork, they’re doing extra training, they’re burning the candle at both ends.

Why Every Soccer Player Needs a Mentor 

It’s extremely common to see athletes work themselves so hard during high school that by the time they get to college, they’re already too burnt out to deal with the increase in intensity. The stress that your athlete is facing will only increase as their soccer journey progresses. College soccer is where the real work begins.

This is why it’s so important for athletes to find solutions for managing their mental health now: So they can continue to rely on these solutions as more adversity come their way.

The thing about teenagers, though, is that they can be very reluctant to open up about their emotions, especially to their parents. It’s even harder when your parents have no idea what it’s like to be a high-level athlete and can’t relate to your experiences.

Athletes need someone they can speak to who truly understands what they’re going through. Fortunately, that’s what we are here for.

What Does a Mindset Coach or Mentor Do?

A mindset coach is a reliable outlet for a high-level athlete’s emotions. Unlike a parent or a mental health professional, this person has lived the journey of a high-level athlete, which makes it easier for young soccer players to open up to them. When they offer advice, athletes may be more inclined to listen because it will be based on firsthand experience with a similar situation.

Also, a big part of a mindset coach’s job is helping athletes deal with stress and adversity, whether it’s from the physical toll of training, the complexity of the college recruitment process, or inevitable obstacles like getting injured or cut. Overcoming these challenges is much easier when someone is willing to shoulder the blow with you and guide your recovery with the same mental techniques that worked for them.

Athletes Need Someone to Talk To, All Year Round

However, a mindset coach doesn’t just offer advice when something goes wrong. They are available to manage your athlete’s mental health all throughout the year so they can consistently express and process their emotions, rather than allowing them to build up and inhibit their well-being.

It’s the secret sauce that helps players thrive and reach their next level. Having the mental resiliency to overcome obstacles and stay relaxed under pressure keeps them consistently playing at their best each and every game.

We learned very early in our careers that the ability to manage stress is often the difference between a good player and a great player. That’s what inspired us to start Beyond Goals Mentoring. We’ll be there when your athlete needs someone to talk to, even just to listen. With the right mindset, your athlete can learn how to accept stress as an ongoing part of their life while still getting plenty of joy and fulfillment out of soccer. All that hard work is pointless if you don’t love what you’re doing, right?

So, if your athlete could use some help dealing with the mental component of high-level sports, let’s set up a mentoring session today.