Motivation in soccer, as in other sports, is a component of mental toughness and preparation. This determination drives you to compete and excel every day, in practice as well as games. An example is Paul Scholes, a midfielder on Manchester United, who joined the club's under-17 team when the adult first team was not available as he recovered from an injury. Scholes dished out assists, won practice races and taught a master class to the youth, reports sports psychologist Bill Beswick in "Focus for Soccer." You'll want to look for a way to light the same fire inside when you play soccer.
Step 1
Draw motivation from the praise and encouragement of your family, friends and teammates at the beginning of your road to soccer achievement. Work on physical strength and skills to create a base of success to harmonize with your goal of motivation. Build your belief that hard work is a fair price for victory. Especially for players under 8 years old, motivation feeds on praise and enthusiasm from adults and peers.
Step 2
Look to your coach for additional incentive in the form of feedback, evaluation, constructive criticism and praise. Link up with a coach who keeps games fun and avoids turning soccer practice into a grind.
Step 3
Remind yourself of why you play: the No. 1 reason for boys and girls, according to a survey by the Youth Sports Institute at the University of Michigan, is "to have fun." Build on the other reasons you enjoy playing, including the chance to improve skills, to stay in shape, to be part of a team and to have the excitement of competition.
Step 4
Read biographies on great athletes in soccer and other sports, looking for examples of sacrifice to gain motivation, Beswick advises. Brazil's legend Pele, for example, played street soccer with knotted rags or a grapefruit standing in for a ball, which he and his friends could not afford. Study the game -- especially the great living players and athletes on championship teams at the World Cup, the Olympics and the European championships -- to see what rewards undiluted motivation can bring. Watch biographical profiles on cable soccer channels of past talents like Michel Platini, George Best and Eusebio.
Step 5
Develop your internal vision of what you want out of soccer and where your talent can take you as you become more mature. Set goals and achieve them, making a commitment to prevent goals on defense or to assist or score on offense. Pursue your soccer goals with happiness and joy. Integrate your motivation internally as part of a switch from extrinsic motivation by others to intrinsic inspiration, a switch that typically occurs around age 14.
Step 6
Place inspirational posters on your bedroom wall, such as educator Marva Collins' "Success doesn't come to you. You go get it." Alternatively, look for epigrams by soccer great Mia Hamm, who noted that backbone of success is "hard work, determination, good planning and perseverance."
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