The Self Believing Footballer

August 30, 2024

Beliefs and Expectations:

Beliefs and expectations are powerful drivers of human behavior. They influence our thoughts, feelings, and actions. They can either help us achieve our goals or hold us back from reaching our full potential. In football, beliefs and expectations play a crucial role in determining a player’s performance.

A player’s mindset, or their overall attitude towards themselves and their abilities, is shaped by their beliefs and expectations. If they believe they are capable of achieving their goals and have high expectations for themselves, they are more likely to perform at their best. On the other hand, if they have limiting beliefs or low expectations, they are more likely to under-perform and struggle with self-esteem and confidence.

What Are Limiting Beliefs:

Limiting beliefs are beliefs that hold us back from achieving our full potential. They are negative thoughts or perceptions that we hold about ourselves, our abilities, and the world around us.

In football, limiting beliefs can take many forms. For example, a player may believe they are not good enough, that they will never be able to compete at a higher level, or that they will always struggle with a particular skill.

What causes limiting beliefs?

Limiting beliefs are caused by a number of factors but they all stem from the same place: your brain’s desire to protect you from pain in the future.

Tips to help your son/daughter overcome limiting beliefs.

By implementing the following strategies consistently, you can play a crucial role in helping your son/daughter overcome limiting beliefs, foster a more positive self-image and go a long way to achieving their potential in football

* Acknowledge and Recognize Limiting Beliefs

The first step in helping your son/daughter overcome limiting beliefs about their football is to acknowledge that these beliefs exist. Encourage open communication where your son/daughter feels safe discussing their thoughts and feelings about how they are progressing with their football. Ask them about the negative beliefs they hold about their football. This can help them become aware of their self-limiting thoughts.

* Challenge Negative Thoughts

Once your son/daughter has identified their limiting beliefs, guide them in questioning the validity of these thoughts.

* Promote a Growth Mindset

Encourage your son/daughter to adopt a growth mindset, which emphasizes the belief that abilities can be developed through effort and perseverance.

* Celebrate Small Wins

Recognizing and celebrating small achievements can significantly boost your son’s/daughter’s football confidence.

* Encourage Positive Self-Talk
Teach your son/daughter the power of positive self-talk by encouraging them to replace negative statements with affirming ones. For example, instead of saying “I can’t do this,” they could say “I will try my best.”

* Provide Supportive Environment

Create an environment where your son/daughter feels safe to express themselves without judgment or ridicule about their football. Show unconditional love and support, reinforcing that it’s okay to make mistakes and learn from them.

Video: 6:09 minutes

Breaking Free: CONQUER Your Limiting Beliefs.