The Soccer Geek

In relation to soccer, other sports, and just about anything else in life for that matter, finding ways to motivate yourself is an issue that is always present. I normally try to keep myself disciplined and determined, but when I suffer a lapse in motivation there are certain things I can try to get me going and ready for the task ahead. Although this post should be helpful for a soccer match, it is more pyschologically-based so it also applies more generally to any other event for which you need to motivate yourself. So when reading the following ‘top 10′ list, try to apply it to different scenarios in your life and then put some into practice to see how they can help.

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1. Build Momentum

It’s very hard to start running again once you’ve stopped, so keep running. By this I mean to stress the need to build momentum in your life rather than letting yourself become still or stuck in a rut. Always keep your body and brain moving so that when you need to really motivate yourself for a particular task, event or match, it will take far less effort. Exercise regularly, practice playing soccer often, and immerse yourself in the game so that you simply need to stoke an existing ember as opposed to lighting a new fire from scratch.

This is admittedly one of the long term ways of motivating yourself, whilst as we move through this list we shall work towards the short term solutions.

2. Focus on Scoring Goals

By this I do not just mean scoring goals in a soccer match, I mean setting yourself targets and stiving to meet them. This could be to go running 3-5 times a week, it could be to keep a clean sheet, win the golden boot in an upcoming tournament, practice the game 3 times per week, win a game or get man of the match. Whatever your goals are, it is helpful to write them down and focus on them consciously to help you achieve them. When you have a written goal, it naturally makes you more motivated to achieve it. Your goal should be a SMART one as well:

Specific

Measurable

Achievable

Realistic

Timely

3. Positive Messages

These are sometimes called affirmations and basically refer to how you can pump yourself up with your own self-talk. Say positive, success-oriented things to yourself in the first person and the present tense for maximum effect, increasing repetition and exposure as much as possible. For example you could repeat a set of 20 affirmations morning and night in order to keep yourself motivated. Top this up with further repetition before the event or match in question (e.g. ‘I am confident’, ‘I am motivated’, ‘I am a team player’, ‘I score goals’, ‘I work hard’ etc.)

4. Become Like What You Honour

Focus on your role models. If you’re a goalkeeper, for example, they might be Brad Friedel, Edwin van der Saar or some great from the past like Gordon Banks. Try to model your performance on their game and you may soon find their style rubbing off on you. If you feel the part, act the part and believe you are embodying their qualities, then this will increase your motivation because the task of succeeding will no longer seem so overwhelming. Of course this can be applied to any walk of life: a singer could aspire to the Beatles, an ambitious author could aspire to JK Rowling etc.

5. Forget Failure

What you focus on you get more of, so focus on success: forget failure. The fear of failure is virtual paralysis, so try to see everything as a result. If you use the term result this automatically removes the negative connotations of the word failure, whilst it also allows you to use each event as a learning experience. Your spirits no longer dampened by fear, you can let go of the anxiety that is the plug in your true flood of motivation.

6. Read Inspirational Quotes

This is like a cross between positive messages and using role models, as it allows you to take nuggets of inspiration and at once learn from your heroes. Becoming inspired is one of the best ways to motivate yourself to action and can thus be very effective in the case of soccer. Why not check out my post on inspirational soccer quotes?

7. Listen to Pump up Music

A fantastic method of motivation in the short term is to listen to songs that really get you pumped up. This could be a great rock anthem like ‘It’s My Life’, a dance track, a soccer tune or something with emotive lyrics like ‘Eye of the Tiger’. Whatever your preference of song and genre, losing yourself in hard or up-tempo music can really get you going and lift your spirits for the match or task ahead. You can learn my favourite soccer pump up songs here.

8. Warm up Properly

In the past I have made the mistake of not warming up properly for unjustified fears of needing to save my energies and best efforts for the match! I’m not saying go crazy on the warm up as it is just that- a warm up- but you can still see yourself as coming from a space of abundance in energy and talent. Commit to doing this properly: the footwork exercises, the passing drills or, for a keeper, the shot stopping practice. Get yourself into the game and remind yourself of how good you are. This is a necessary forerunner to a motivated and confident performance.

9. Focus on Helping Others

Try to shift your attention from yourself and the question of how well you can play, to the question of what you can do to help the other 10 players on your team. This might be to find space and give them options, make a generous pass to leave them in the best position or, as a keeper, commanding to let them know where they are meant to be. Although this is easier said than done, when your focus is on helping it removes attention from yourself and frees you up to play better. This sense of release can only improve your levels of motivation during the match.

10. Reward Yourself

When you play well you feel good, and this can serve as motivation to go into the next game with extra enthusiasm. So if this works, then why not further the cause: when you play well give yourself extra rewards, celebrate and congratulate yourself. In this way you can intensify the positive experience of victory and inspire yourself to achieve highly more often. Celebrating each small victory is a technique that works in all walks of life as it gives you an incentive to work towards. ‘Done well in exams? Go shopping!’ ‘Got a new job? Drink champagne!’ ‘Been working hard? Go take a break!’ As you can see, rewarding yourself after the event can help to motivate you for the next one.

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So there are 10 possible ways to motivate yourself. If you’re interested in short term motivation for RIGHT NOW, then focus especially on the pump up music, inspirational quotes and the proper warm up when you get out onto the pitch. Try implementing some of these over the coming days and weeks notice any results. None of them are a miracle cure and it is of course all easier said than done, but if anything provides extra positivity, determination, motivation and success then they’ve got to be worth a go. I hope you’ve enjoyed this list – now stay motivated!

Are there any other forms of motivation you can list?

Have fun,

Soccer Geek

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