The Shootout & How to Succeed in Pressure Situations

As all athletes know, whether they are ten years old or twenty-five, shoot outs are many times the deciding factor of a very important game, and extremely nerve racking when it comes down to that final point.  In 2011, the women’s U.S. soccer team missed their first three shots in the shootout against Japan, who had not beaten the U.S. in the previous 26 matches between the two teams.  Even after hours and hours of practicing for the chance of a shoot out, and continually making those simple shots in other games under pressure, the U.S. women’s soccer team froze up, costing them a game. So my question is: what factors influence this sudden outcome for even the best players? Is it that they just did not practice enough? Do athletes simply get nervous from the pressure and freeze up?  Or is it all just in their heads to psych them out?

What coaches understand, but not always the players, is that talent and skill is not the only measure of a great player; you also have to include the mental part of the game as well.  Most of the mistakes athletes make during their game are mental mistakes that they sometimes cannot jump back from.   Each and every player may have their own distractions and contributions to what causes their mental focus to get off track, so it is very important that they get assessed individually.

However, in the instance of shoot outs, it has been noticed that many of the missed shots are stress related.  The stress caused by being in the position and under pressure of taking this one simple shot that all your teammates, coaches, family and fans are counting on you for, 50% of the time results in a shot over the cross bar, too wide left or right, or even straight at the goalie.  These missed shots have been found to be because of physical tension that the stress caused these shooters.  These results don’t only go for soccer though; hockey players, baseball, football and basketball players also crack under a great amount of pressure when it comes down to the last straw.

Physical tension is caused by the stress of the deciding shoot out, free throw, or no-hitter, or just the game against your rival. This results in your muscles in your body working against themselves, called “bracing”, causing athletes to fail to succeed at something they have done perfectly a million times before.  Athletes have to learn how to deal with this pressure and play around it. There are many techniques they may have never thought to do, but effectively work when under stress and the pressure of the game.

One approach that can be used by all athletes is the “pre-shot routine”, which has been proven to lessen the negative impact of pressure when approaching the ball to shoot.  This routine is to help you practice an approach to the shot on a consistent basis, so that in a pressure situation the athlete can focus on the routine and avoid being psyched out. Any routine must begin with the athlete centering themselves, and takes a great amount of practice to become effective. However, if mastered, a routine can be a great resource in a pressure situation.

Another successful technique is visualization. When you are getting ready in the locker room with your teammates, take a few minutes to visualize the game and what you would like to see happen during that specific game. Start by visualizing yourself scoring, making that interception, beating the opposing team, whatever it is that will help you get pumped up the most. This technique helps you stay positive and achieve those goals, no matter your role or position on your team.

A third mental preparation technique is to get mentally prepared by reviewing your opponents.  If you know the other teams players’ strengths, weaknesses, and the kind of game they play, it will begin to ease your mind and release some of the stress build-up.

Lastly, positive self-talk is a great relaxer for athletes during a game or competition.  Never think of a bad outcome of the game and what you hope not to happen.  Instead, think of the good plays you are going to make and winning.  If you use the “I can”, “I will” and phrases such as those in sentences to yourself and your teammates before and during the game, you are more likely to see that as an outcome than if you have a lot of negativity.

In conclusion, most athletes do not fail at the game they love, or make the mistakes they do on the field because of their lack of skill or practice, but because of stress and anxiety built up before and during the game.  Most coaches know and see this but do not know how to take the correct and appropriate steps to help their players overcome this.  Athletes growing up need to be aware of these mental factors and start to focus on their mental preparation and focus of the game just as much as their own personal skill level.

REFERENCES:

http://soccerpsychology.com/soccer-the-mental-game/

http://www.livestrong.com/article/521565-techniques-to-mentally-prepare-for-hockey/

Why College Coaches Host Soccer Camps

 

 

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All soccer coaches have different motivations to host soccer camps. For many on the youth travel/club level it is not only to make their teams better but to gain a profit. College soccer coaches opinion’s are the most worthy of noting because their livelihood is based on their success and college level soccer is typically where the most competitive and elite athletes set their goals after high school. Instead of their goals being directly focused on profit, college coaches have to worry about winning to maintain their job. As a result college soccer coaches must successfully recruit athletes that will help them win games and display upstanding character that will portray their university in a positive light. When college coaches host soccer camps, they look for these factors in order to ensure their success and heighten their career performance.

The first and most obvious reason that college coaches host soccer camps is to find the best talent for their teams. Coaches can only control what they have to work with and want to select the best talents for their teams the upcoming season. Every team has a weakness or holes that need to be filled on the roster and the process of recruiting helps coaches find gaps for these inadequacies. College coaches host soccer camps to find the best talent to add to their teams in addition to finding compatible players that will fit their team’s chemistry. In other words, college coaches are looking for “coachable” athletes that are willing to commit their talents to the coach’s game plan. An athlete looking to be on a college team should attend college soccer camps to showcase their skills but make sure that they are willing to listen to the coaches instructions to prove they could possibly play a role on the team.

The next ability coaches look at in college soccer camps goes beyond the boundaries of the field. College coaches look for players with character both on and off the field and the best way for an athlete to display this at soccer camps is by following instructions and staying humble. Coaches despise when athletes have a know-it-all attitude about a subject; the athlete may love the sport he plays and an instruction given may already be known, however, it is important to respect the coaches’ advice.

In my previous article, Character Matters in College Sports, I go into exclusive detail about how an athlete’s character is an essential part of the recruiting process for all college coaches. This doesn’t change for soccer and is actually magnified to some extent. College soccer is rarely a large revenue generating sport for the university; therefore, coaches, athletic directors, and administrative staff are far less likely to put up with any shenanigans or foul behavior off the field. All teams have rules that players must abide by that range from drinking policies to keeping grades (even some teams’ of –age players are banned from drinking during the season). For college coaches it is important that athletes display respect on the field towards their coaches/teammates and show character while abiding by team rules – in addition to university rules and the law. Athletes who follow these aspects at college soccer camps and in everyday life have a better chance of being noticed by coaches who run these camps.

In conclusion, college soccer coaches host soccer camps primarily to look for talent and character in players. They are looking for athletes that will help improve their team and are attempting to create an environment as close as possible to a college soccer practice. College camps are intended to improve college soccer teams by obtaining players that already have the most talent and the best character. These camps are part of the recruiting process that eventually helps sustain them in their careers as coaches. As an athlete looking to play in college, one should come prepared to these camps to display their skills and prove their character.

REFERENCES

http://www.soccercoachingnotes.com/college/college_soccer.html

http://www.studentguideusa.com/sports/college-soccer.html

http://www.active.com/soccer/Articles/7-College-Soccer-Camps-to-Attend.htm

http://www.nationalsoccerranking.com/rankings.asp

http://www.soccercampguide.com/soccer_camp_questions.htm

Related articles

• Types of Youth Soccer Camps (exactsports.com)
• Evaluating Soccer Camps (exactsports.com)
• The Nike Vogelsinger Soccer Academy Offers Elite Coaching Clinic Opportunity for First Time in 45 Year History (prweb.com)
• Defensive Soccer Skills Progression (soccer-training-drills-blog.com)

Evaluating Soccer Camps

 

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In the last article I posted on “Types of Youth Soccer Camps” I indicated that there was more to be discussed on how to evaluate each type of camp. My associate, Katie, recently posted “How to Pick a Soccer Camp” back in April and provided great advice for youth to pick soccer camps depending on what they are looking to get out of the camp. With an excellent article already covering this topic, I will attempt to discuss how to evaluate the camps I mentioned in my last article regardless of what the athlete is looking to achieve from the camp. Hopefully, all of our articles combined will give the dedicated athlete willing to spend the time and money on soccer camps the best possible guidance regardless of what they are looking to gain from these camps.

Once an athlete has figured out what type of soccer camp they would like to attend and their reason for attending a camp, one must next take into consideration how to evaluate the quality of the camp. In order to choose the camp that’s best for the athlete, one must consider the challenge the camp will bring them, quality of faculty members, signs of reaching the allotted goal once the camp begins, and third party recommendations. These factors combined will help athletes and parents alike evaluate the quality of the soccer camp based on their specific reasoning for joining a camp.

First, looking at Katie’s article in addition to my previous article, one must consider the challenge the camp will bring them. The athlete must make sure that it is the right level of competition for them at the camp. There is no use in signing up for a camp where you aren’t going to improve, be able to display your skills, or achieve the goal you set out for by joining the camp. Playing against lower or higher competition than what the athlete is ready for can be detrimental to their overall goal physically and mentally.

Secondly, make sure to look at the staff that runs the camp and their qualifications. Lots of camps have colorful ways of making coaches sound like experts when they haven’t even played the game and only read books and/or articles on soccer; these people are likely in it for the money and could care less about the goals the athlete has set out to obtain. Typically, the best staff members are those who have had personal and lifetime experience with the game. The closer the coach is tied to the game and identifies with the game, the more likely he/she will identify with the players and the interests and be able to help the camper reach their goal(s).

Another factor to consider once the camp begins is whether the athlete is getting closer to reaching their goals. Most camps do not allow refunds but if the athlete is not showing signs of improvement, being properly evaluated, or being discovered, the camp may not be worth the continued time and effort. Of course, this is a very relative area and there is no exact formula as to if a player is meeting their goals. When the access to the camp has not overall balanced out the money put in and the goals the athlete wishes to obtain, the camp may be no longer worth the effort. On the same token, it is against many athletes’ ideals to just quit and depending on the camps connections could give the athlete a bad coachability reputation. With this being said, I believe it is most important for an athlete to stick it out through a camp if they want to represent the committed individual they will be trying to portray from joining the camp to begin with. Even when the goals are not being obtained, there is always something that can be gained from practicing. The most important thing to remember about any camp is that you get out of it what you put in; regardless of whether you were lied to or short-changed by promises the camp made, if you continue to work hard and put effort into the camp till the end you will at least gain a mental edge that will help you in learning how to overcome adversity. On the other hand, if the camp is meeting the goals set out and exceeding original expectations, don’t be content with just going through the motions. Always put your best effort into a camp once you step foot on the grass because you never know what goals you can achieve until you’ve put everything into your performance.

Finally, pay close attention to word-of-mouth recommendations and what other soccer athletes, coaches, parents, and friends say about camps. Like all youth sports camps, soccer camps are a business; if you find campers with similar goals and ambitions who have experienced different camps you are likely to get the best value – both materially speaking ($) and athletically speaking (reaching your goal) – for your experience. Additionally, investigate the camp and outside sources input. Many websites, including EXACT, offer blogs or access to blog sites that share peoples’ opinion and experiences from attending camps. Many websites for camps also contain video analysis of the camps and detailed outlines of what the camp will have. Listening to the recommendations of others should be weighed with all other factors in order to choose the proper camp that will accommodate the athlete’s goals.

In conclusion, it is important to do research on camps regarding several main concentrations of interest. Understanding what one wishes to get out of a camp and looking at different types of camps are the first steps in this process. The final step is to evaluate the quality of the camp by looking at the individual aspects of the camp that are mentioned above. An athlete will likely succeed in achieving their goals if all of these factors are taken into consideration and balanced in favor of the athlete’s best interest.

REFERENCE

http://www.thesummersoccercamps.com/summer-soccer-camps

http://www.ehow.com/how_8474_choose-youth-soccer.html

http://www.darrellstuart.com/index.php/soccer-camps/68

http://www.soccer-training-guide.com/soccer-training-camp.htm

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• Soccer (beautifuleverydaythings.wordpress.com)
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Benefits of Attending Soccer Camps

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Youth athletes in all sports attempt to acquirer the best possible skill sets in order to perform at their bests. Becoming a better soccer player and achieving ones ultimate potential are top priorities for most serious competitive soccer players. Outside of team practice, games, and absorbing as much knowledge as possible from coaches and watching professional soccer, attending soccer camps truly benefit youth interested in the sport. Many individual camps boast of specialized benefits obtained strictly from attendance at their camps. The following is a compilation of benefits I discovered that will help youth athletes who are serious about soccer:

Benefit #1 = Specialized Training
First and foremost, there is simply no other way to become a better soccer player than to attend a soccer camp. Given that the right circumstances surround the camp (i.e. – experienced coaches, player favored coach/player ratio, etc.) an athlete can access his/her greatest potential by attending a camp that allows a trained professional to specifically focus on their individual talents and areas of improvement. Specialized Training is one of the main reasons soccer camps exist to begin with! During a regular high school or traveling season, the coaches expect their players to know certain things about the game and have worked on the fundamentals in the off-season on their own time; coaches want to use practice for team improvement NOT for individual training. Granted, there are always fundamentals worked into practice in one form or another; however, the majority of soccer coaches during a regular season are concerned with the overall teams performance as their job typically rests on this factor. Soccer camps allow for serious athletes to recognize areas of weakness and improve upon them in ways they cannot do during the regular season. This is because of the special individual attention given to athletes at credible soccer camps around the country and a coaching staffs lack of full interest in individual performance during a regular season.

Benefit #2 = Getting Yourself Noticed/Coaches Exposure
The serious athlete who wishes to play soccer at the next level will benefit from soccer camps because they will create a realm of exposure that would otherwise not be available to them. There are only so many scouts out there who can visit so many schools. Attending camps allows athletes to open another door besides standing out on game day. Moreover, soccer camps at colleges are typically run by the college coaches themselves and allow coaches critical personal evaluations that they may otherwise rely on someone else for. This first person informative session can drastically improve an athlete’s chances of playing at the next level especially for those who have limited exposure to scouts. Soccer camps offer a unique way to expose players who may otherwise not be noticed. Also, college coaches are typically more qualified than high school coaches to teach and critique the advanced lessons of soccer. Experiencing

Benefit #3 = Practice Makes Perfect, but Balance Prevents Burnout
The old saying that “practice makes perfect” may be cliché but it is true. Soccer camps help athletes continually emphasize the skills they have picked up on from playing soccer throughout their lives. Additionally, if a serious soccer player is not practicing during the off-season, then they risk falling behind their competition. These camps are out there: Committed soccer players will attend these camps! Do NOT just attend these camps because other people are attending them; doing this conflicts with the idea that an athlete is serious about playing soccer at the next level. Instead, those who truly love the game and wish to improve to their best abilities will use soccer camps as a tool to better their skills by giving them a formal outlet to review these abilities. In this day and age, paying for and scheduling something like a soccer camp creates more motivation to attend. Practice may not be the most enjoyable part of soccer for those who love the game but an individual committed to the idea of playing at the next level will benefit from constantly practicing throughout the year. Soccer camps provide this outlet by creating a formal environment where the athlete is not distracted by typical everyday activities that may deter his/her process. To conclude this segment, I would also like to note the importance of balance. Committing to a camp allows you to schedule practice so you have other time available for your friends and other fun activities. If you’re reading this your likely serious about soccer and want to enjoy your youth: Do so! Scheduling in soccer creates a mature and responsible way to organize your day to make time for other things in life outside the boundaries of the soccer pitch.

Benefit #4 = Coaching Experience
College coaches are typically more qualified to access the abilities of athletes than high school coaches. Their experience usually derives from a mastery from the sport on a personal level or at least some college experience themselves. On the other hand, there are no guarantees that high school coaches have any accelerated personal experience with the game. This is not to say that high school coaches aren’t qualified but they aren’t usually hired for the specific purpose to coach athletics; thus, their focus is not only on athletic improvement (typically of the team as a whole as mentioned above) but also on the classroom or whatever their link to the school is other than soccer. The focus and expertise of college coaches is unique to the soccer camp experience.

Benefit #5 = Player Relationships/Discovering Schools
One of the most overlooked items by athletes looking to compete at the next level is the quality of chemistry and compatibility with players who are already on the team. There is no other (legal) way to be exposed to the athletic environment of college as a high school athlete. Soccer camps at colleges allow for high school players to get a feel for how the team is and if they will fit in with the crew. The camps give those who attend a feel for what the teams work ethic, attitude, and other attributes are like that aren’t specific to talent but truly matter in the world of college sports. Beyond the players, attending camps helps athletes discover different schools they may wish to attend. It’s important for an athlete to choose the right school the first time: Transferring is an option but it’s a stressful process.

In conclusion, there are several major benefits a committed soccer player can achieve from attending soccer camps at colleges. Although the benefits in a sense are unlimited, the foregoing benefits provide athletes with the best guide to what they can get out of a soccer camp. An athlete who wishes to play at the next level cannot rely on improvement/advancement from their games or practices alone. The most committed soccer players will strive for the best opportunities to better their game. The easiest way to do this is through a soccer camp.

REFERENCES
“Attending Soccer Camps Are Essential to Playing College Soccer!”
“Benefits of Attending Soccer Camps”
Ray Reid Soccer School

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Types of Youth Soccer Camps

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For all soccer players wishing to develop their skills properly it is important to attend soccer camps. Camps vary depending on the different age and skill level a young soccer athlete is at in his/her life and should be chosen accordingly. It is important to remember that all youth athletic camps are a business and created to make a profit; with this being said, parents and athletes need to be very aware of their skill level in addition to what they want in exchange for paying for a camp. Wisely chosen soccer camps are based on these factors and will help the athlete get the most out of their experience. Most soccer camps that are worth attending will have a good reputation because of their professionalism as a business in that they are successful in their methods. The following are types of soccer camps for soccer players of various age ranges:

DAY CAMPS – Beginner to Intermediate

These types of camps are typically run for beginner soccer players to develop the most fundamental skills. The fact that they take place during the day helps most beginner soccer players, who are typically very young, adjust to the early games that will likely take place throughout their future career should they choose to travel. Additionally, they help young athletes who are not used to being away from home improve their skill level while still providing a fun environment to enjoy the basics of the game.

COMMUNITY CAMPS – Beginner to Intermediate

These camps are similar to day camps but typically cheaper as they are offered by many local soccer clubs in an attempt to promote youth soccer in the United States. Again, these are excellent for beginner players who want to learn the fundamentals of the game while still competing on a beginner’s level.

RESIDENTIAL/OVERNIGHT CAMPS – Intermediate to Advanced

Camps like these are typically for older, more advanced, and more knowledgeable soccer players. Athletes spend the night, are provided meals, and accommodated lodging at these camps. They can last from a weekend or a few days to up to three weeks at a time. Some advanced camps typically only involve travel players on premier, select, and Olympic Development Program teams. These types of camps are for the most committed and dedicated of soccer players who wish to take their skills to the next level. The athletes in these advanced camps are instructed on advanced skills and strategic intricacies of the game. There are some camps that even offer sports psychology training, nutrition advice, strength training, and college soccer camp connections.

SKILL SPECIFIC/POSITION CAMPS – Beginner to Advanced

Specialized camps like this are recognized as enjoyable and beneficial for almost all levels of soccer players but are typically very expensive. Camps geared towards beginners help them decipher what position is best for them based on their current skill set, which can be problematic for an athlete too young as he/she has not fully physically developed yet. However, they are still recommended because they provide specific skill sets not always taught in other beginner camps. As for intermediate/advanced athletes, these camps provide an opportunity for specifically targeted skills  to be improved based on a position the athlete has already established.

COLLEGE CAMPS – Advanced to Elite

Camps that take place on college campuses are typically run by coaches and players of the college team and are excellent opportunities for the most skilled athletes to display their talent. Most even offer the typical college experience in addition to the college level soccer demands on the field. A camp like this will strategically offer athletes help in areas beyond soccer like NCAA education (scholarships as well as rules/regulations), SAT/ACT prep, and admissions advice.

Keeping in mind an athlete’s skill set and age is vitally important to getting the best value out of any of these camps. Additionally, ones skill set will be most improved by competing with athletes that are on a similar talent level as they are. Attending soccer camps is crucial for youth development but parents and athletes must make sure that the proper camp is chosen. Recognizing that the types of soccer camps are not the only area of concern for athletes interested in improving their skill and attending camps, I will soon post more on how to choose a soccer camp.

REFERENCES

http://www.howtodothings.com/sports-recreation/how-to-choose-a-good-youth-soccer-camp

http://www.my-youth-soccer-guide.com/types-of-soccer-camps.html

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