Youth Soccer News: Dealing with stress on the pitch

SoccerNation is proud to announce a new series with our newest columnist and former soccer pro, Justin Carter, Psy.D.

Justin Carter has 23 years of soccer experience ranging from AYSO, the Coast Premier League with SoCal United (now Real SoCal), Division I soccer the University of Portland, in Oregon and a three month trial with the Portland Timbers prior to attending graduate school at the California School of Professional Psychology - Alliant International University, Los Angeles Campus. Justin currently holds a doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology and works predominantly with children, teens, and families. Please remember, if you are concerned about your player - seek professional care.

As soccer families, we’ve all been witness to it: the turn over at midfield, the last minute break away that hits the post, the ball that slipped through the keepers hands, the PK that sailed wide, the parent who yells at their child (or someone else’s) the entire game.

There are so many stressful situations inherent in the game of soccer. So, what shall we do with the pressure? Many individuals know that too much stress is bad, but it is equally true that too little stress is bad as well.

The challenging part is that there is no equation to know what the optimal level of pressure is because each child is different. There is another scenario that most of us have witnessed as well: the “we are playing the last placed team so we don’t have to play as hard and we end up losing” scenario. This is likely a result of a lack of pressure resulting in a lack of mental preparedness.

Perhaps, in this scenario, our children need some critical preparation so they can compete at their optimal level. There are the others times as well; when the ball just isn’t going where we’d like it, our first touch has the finesse of a brick wall, and nothing is going right in the game and now the ability to play well and contribute to the team is so distant a player just gives up. That player doesn’t need someone to be critical because they are well aware of the mistakes that were made. In these scenarios there are so many important opportunities for life lessons.

Soccer is hopefully a fun place to learn so many of the skills necessary to be successful in the future. For instance, no matter what the occasion is, bring your “A” game or even if you’re having an off day, you can still find a way to contribute. Wouldn’t it be nice as a parent if, even though your child is tired, they still do the chore you asked them to do without an argument? 

Even professionals experience stress at all levels	Landon Donovan at the Gold Cup

Soccer is not the end all be all of life although sometimes it does feel that way. Soccer is a tool for growth, an opportunity to improve one self as an individual: child and parent alike. Through the game of soccer families are exposed to the excitement of having to rise to the occasion, the necessity for consistency in day to day activity, the pain inherent in losing the big game… the list could go on and on.

The fact of the matter is soccer provides an opportunity to be exposed to so many of life’s challenges. Without exposure to such challenges children may not have the opportunity to learn ways to cope.

Does this mean I advocate for the critical coach or parent? No, but throughout life there will be critical people adding pressure to situations that are already pressure filled. College professors adding an extra paper the week before finals, a boss moving up a deadline on an important project, a best friend sharing something really heavy when life is already hectic are just a few examples that come to mind.

So remember the next time you are worried about the pressure of the big game, soccer not only provides the chance to be exposed to the pressure, but it also provides our children, most of the time, a place to go when life is too stressful.

For 60-90 minutes the game we all love so much becomes a place where we can be free from the stress and judgment inherent in being a teenager and human.

Photo Credit: ISI Photos