Stop stressing! Don’t worry about it! Just relax! How many times have you heard a similar comment from a soccer coach or parents just before a big game? Performance anxiety on gameday can be caused due to several factors. Many of these have more to do with everything surrounding the game, before and after, than the actual game itself. Here, a professional junior football academy in Swindon not only helps children to develop crucial football skills in a fun and interactive way but also teaches them anxiety-busting techniques to help them handle the various anxiety issues.
Young athletes can get sports performance anxiety at any time, but it usually peaks around the build-up of a big game. However, in order for your child to have a long and enjoyable sports career, it’s critical that they learn to cope with the pressure of competition. Today, in this blog, we will explore some of the best ways to manage performance anxiety issues faced by young soccer players.
Overcoming Performance Anxiety in Young Soccer Players: An Overview
1. Identify the Reason:
To overcome performance anxiety, you need to understand why those thoughts and feelings develop and then try to solve them. Remember, there are high chances that kids won't come out and say what they're nervous about. They may not even realize they are anxious. So, it becomes really important that you figure what the problem is and help them tackle it with proper steps and strategies.
2. Acknowledge and Normalize Feelings of Anxiety.
Having anxiety is a normal part of life. Letting your child know that these feelings are natural can go a long way in diminishing nervousness. In addition to that, assuring your young players that performance anxiety is normal and that it is something even professional athletes deal with often lessens the severity of their anxiety. With young children, the concept of having ‘butterflies in their stomachs is a common way to talk about it.
3. Make a Game Plan:
Concentration is one of the first things to go when someone is under pressure. Talk to your child about what they hope to achieve at their next performance or game. Help your young players develop a game plan and help them stick with it during the game. A reliable junior football academy in Swindon teaches the young soccer players to focus on the moment, not the result or outcome – this is particularly important during a game. It’s not always just about winning or losing.
Role of Parents and Coaches
Parents and coaches can help reduce sports performance anxiety with the language they use before, during, and after games. Also, you can sometimes contribute to their anxiety, even without realizing it. For example, it’s natural that young soccer players are afraid of disappointing their parents or coaches. This fear can increase their anxiety levels. So, be sure not to pressure your child to perform when they're playing sports.
Final Thoughts
Finding a junior football academy that blends fun and education through its football training classes can be a challenge. First Steps Soccer is an eminent junior football academy in Swindon offering junior football training program for 2 to 9 year olds. Players get skills books containing weekly session content, stickers to acknowledge their achievement, and access to 210 coaching videos from the website. Want to know what’s included in our junior football training program? Then visit http://www.firststepssoccer.com/how-fss-works/.
