Sometimes caring a lot about playing well in our upcoming soccer game can paradoxically lead to worse performance. Mental tightness in the form of fear and anxiety can lead to increased injuries and cause us to move with less efficiency on the field. In turn, we end up not playing as well, wasting energy, and wondering “WTF JUST HAPPENED?” after doing everything right in the pre-game.
Not caring is not the antidote to good performance either. Research shows peak performance occurs when we have a certain level of arousal that in the graph below is called “Excitement”. Any more than that and it turns into the anxiety zone. See the image below and you will see what I mean.
How do we find the optimal level of excitement when the butterflies in our stomach feel fire-breathing dragons? Seated meditation is a great tool and yoga movements are beneficial. However, below I present a different yet similar style of breathing and moving that may be more applicable for soccer players. As they train you to be loose and supple, you will have to risk looking a little silly. But, the ability to withstand looking foolish could also translate to better play. In other words, peak performance doesn’t concern itself with making mistakes and looking bad. We are too busy in the moment, playing our game.
Check out the video for 4 simple ways to combine movement and breath in ways that ground us, uplift our energy levels, and help us and our team play good soccer. If you enjoyed these techniques, please share them with your teammates, coaches, and friends.