First touch in eight minutes: free counter, you alone against the goalkeeper – and the ball goes over the bar.
What's happening in your head?
Pick the thought closest to yours. There are no wrong answers.
Strategy
Wing position between contacts:
- 1Keep the body warm.
- 2Go through two finishes in your head, in real-time.
- 3A cue word for the start.
Practice now
Mental rehearsal: your action
The evening before the game, on the bus, or in the changing room – not directly in a stressful situation.
One word, one task
Whenever you come back in: before throw-off, after the timeout, after every substitution.
Three things that are yours
Before important games, before a trial, or whenever only the result counts.
Why is that?
- Imagery / Mental TrainingModerate
Doesn't replace physical training. Only works with a clear, practiced imagination – vague 'thinking about it' isn't enough.
- Pre-Performance RoutinesModerate
No ritual with magical effects: Works through attention and familiarity, not luck. Routines that are too long can be disruptive under time pressure.
- Self-talkStrong
Instructional self-talk is most effective for fine motor skills; effects are smaller for strength and endurance tasks. Positive platitudes unrelated to the task have little effect.