26/11/2019
Young players visualise a football match in the same way they see it on TV. The nerves, the anxiety, the frustration they feel is based on their own perception of how big a game really is. As coaches we try to help children understand that there is no difference between the training pitch, the playground and the game on a Sunday. However a child will always dress up the occasion in their head. Parents teach their children to dream, imagine and be creative with their thoughts as they grow up and this leads to children seeing a much bigger, more complicated picture on a matchday.
Does your child get easily frustrated? Does your child not play the same level that he does in training on a Sunday? Does your child give shooting opportunities to other players instead of shooting themselves? All these things can be down to a child seeing the game as a huge spectacle. An occasion that is so big that they let their emotions get the better of them. They fear mistakes and critique their performance with every good or bad touch. Trophies, League tables, medals and celebrations all build the significance and importance of the occasion. In some players this can manifest as nerves, upset or even anger when on the pitch.
Our advice is to take the result, the scale and the importance away from the game. Pre-match talks, chats in the car on the way home and even instructions during games can have a negative effect rather than a positive one if you don't choose your words carefully.
As a coach, a parent and a player we should always remember that The Beautiful Game is exactly that... just a game
TOT Footballio.
Thanks : Catalan Soccer
