Visualization Tip

Soccer is not only "The Beautiful Game" but it is also "The Thinking Man's Game." Our brain is a key factor into how we play and interpret soccer. Visualization is a very powerful tool for achieving success on and off the pitch. Visualization basically means 'to imagine'. When you visualize you are deliberately imagining yourself achieving a certain goal. Whether it is scoring a goal or blocking a penalty kick visualization will help you to turn thoughts into reality. A suggestion that I learned from a friend a long time ago and helped me considerably was this; before you go to bed, when you wake up in the morning or if you can find a quiet place before your game, close your eyes and visualize everything that you want to accomplish and how you want play in that game. Devote enough time to visualizing until you are satisfied. It can take anywhere from a minute to an hour if you want. It's up to you. I know it sounds like "new age meditation" but really all it is using your brain to burn a positive mental picture into your subconscious mind. Once that picture is embedded there, your subconscious mind begins working to make that picture a reality. It’s much easier to achieve your goals with your subconscious mind on your side. If you think mostly about how horrible you played or a mistake you may have made then instead of playing well you'll continue to make the same mistakes because your subconscious will maintain that as your ongoing reality. This is why many people get stuck in ruts. All players go through it, believe me! We are only human and we get stuck on the games we lost and should have won or those shots we should have blocked or the ball that was right in front of the goal and you kicked it wide left somehow! We're constantly focused on the rut we're in or the mistake we made and, consequently, we just keep perpetuating that condition. If we instead begin to focus and change our frame of mind to what we want instead, our subconscious minds will start working on helping us improve and get to where we need to be. How does visualizing work? It activates your reticular activating system or RAS. It is the part of the reticular formation in the brainstem that plays a central role in bodily and behavioral alertness. Once the image you want is burned into your subconscious, you will start seeing things around you that can help you achieve your goals. You'll become more focused and aware of your surroundings. Once your subconscious mind knows what your goals look like visually, it will start pointing things out to you that will help you make that visualization a reality, in the very least by reminding you of what you want. Basically think positive! Drop your negative thoughts and focus on what you want to achieve.

Cheers,

Jared