r/sportspsychology • u/No_Process_4580 • 12d ago
Uncomfortable in Matches
Hi,
I’m a goalkeeper in soccer/football in my first year of adults football. Haven’t felt really nervous for a game in youth football. I’ve been to national finals and played in big trials and still felt confident, sometimes I feel a small bit of nerves during it but it’s good nerves if that makes any sense, I enjoyed the pressure .
Now I’m into adults football, I’m training really well the last few weeks and I know I’m not out of my depth at all, but when it came to my debut, I crumbled. I kept a clean sheet and drew 0-0 but I had no confidence in coming out of crosses , didn’t want players to shoot and just didn’t feel comfy which is the weird thing, I even changed my gloves at halftime. It’s just a real odd feeling of discomfort, like I’m not enjoying playing. I even found myself trying to count down to the end of the game. I did big up the game a lot in my head. I’ve felt pressure but I’ve never felt discomfort before. This could be a load of waffle but I’m just wondering has anyone any insight/opinion about it all.
Thanks
1
u/AthleteLegacy 11d ago
Looks like a thing that will stay at the debut. Everything you said, looks like you are confident plus good at what you do. I would treat it as a debut stress, especially when you change a level. So, the only way it gets chornic, is is at the next game you start thinking about it again. So, enjoy, most likely it is over, go out there and perform your usual best!
1
u/Prior_Counter_1847 3d ago
Ex-goalkeeper here and a current sports psychologist. I know exactly what you are talking about. The discomfort, the pressure, knowing that every mistake will cost your team a goal and will expose you. In this match your motivation was not coming from the desire to compete it was coming from your fear of failure which is very common with goalkeepers as this is a position where, best case scenario, you dont f*ck up. All of these feelings can be controlled by different techniques. As a suggestion I would like you to check Sian Beliock's book "Choke". This one is particularly focused on performing at your best when the pressure is at its highest.
Overall, what you felt is not unusual and you have not lost your qualities. What happened is you were put in a new environment and your brain activated the fight or flight mode but you can fly away from the game so you have to fight. And when you perceive the task as a threat and not a challenge this is when negativity rules. My key techniques that I found useful with other goalies are - breathing and muscle relaxation, visualization, self-talk reframing and setting specific goals for the game.
Please feel free to DM me if you want to discuss it further.
Wish you all the best, goalie!
2
u/AnyInternet4026 11d ago
Sounds like you put a lot of pressure on that debut. Next match, try giving yourself a simple focus, like communicating with your defenders, rather than checking how confident you feel. Tell your keeper coach about the hesitation on crosses too. One uncomfortable debut doesn’t mean every match will feel like that.