How To Get Rid Of Your Fear Of Making Mistakes In Soccer

The soccer greats -- David Beckham, Mia Hamm, Cristian Ronaldo -- have natural talent, but even the best athletes play games in which they're displeased with their performance or frustrated with a loss. The confidence you see in pro soccer players is the result of years of honing their craft, playing with a team and learning from losses. If you're scared of making a mistake in soccer, that only means you're serious about the sport. Building confidence helps you become more decisive and successful on the field.

Step 1

Practice soccer with your team and individually. You build some of the confidence you need on the field is through knowing you're able to execute near-perfect basics in passing, dribbling and shooting the ball. Playing in scrimmages with your team members helps to simulate some of the decisions you'll need to make quickly in a real game. The more you practice, the better and more confident you become.

Step 2

Schedule a time to talk to your coach one-on-one. Tell him that you're nervous about making mistakes on the soccer field and ask him if has suggestions for improvement. Your coach observes you in practices and games, so he'll know where you're proficient and where you're slightly weaker. Knowing what to focus on and how to improve helps you become a more formidable competitor.

Step 3

Erase negative self-talk in your head before and during a game. That includes the thoughts that you'll make a mistake at a crucial moment in the game, that you're not helping your team win or that your team will lose because of you. Instead, replace those thoughts with ideas to bolster your confidence. You've practiced hard, you're a valuable member of the team and you have natural talent. Remind yourself of that before the game.

Step 4

Trust your instincts on the soccer field. Soccer moves quickly, and you won't always have the time to weigh the pros and cons of a play before you execute it. Make the best decision possible based with the players information you have, trusting that you've done your best to make the right choice.

Step 5

Learn from your mistakes. No one is a perfect soccer player and botched plays, sloppy passes and missed kicks are bound to bring you down at some point. Instead of beating yourself up over the mistakes that you've made, use them to your advantage at your next practices. Let these errors mold you into a better player so you're less afraid of making mistakes.