MIndset Monday 7/18/11- World Cup Lesson

My soccer experience is limited to my recreation play from Kindergarten to 2nd grade. I did not watch the women’s World Cup until overtime. Shame on me! There is a lesson to be learned in the closing minutes of the game.

I do know a thing or two about performance success and body language.
In the last few minutes of the game and the penalty kicks, I noticed a drastic difference between the body language of the American and Japanese goalies. I wonder if you caught it too.

I saw the American goalie get hurt, so we cannot hold this against her. Still, her body language was not the same as the Japanese goalie. I know, I know momentum was shifting toward Japan with a late goal, but there is still a lesson to be learned.

Before the penalty kicks I saw one goalie running around giving her teammates high fives. She was energetic and enthusiastic. I saw the other goalie sitting on the ground, almost sprawled out before the biggest penalty kick of her life. (Note- I take nothing away from this tremendous athlete who is certainly one of the best in the world at what she does, but remember, everyone makes mistakes, everyone is human).

Again, I know that an injury may have been present and when both goalies took the net, they each looked focused. But moments just prior to competition are crucial to your success.

Even if you are feeling down, you must act as if you were up. The difference between success and failure at a high level is so small that you need every little advantage you can get.

You cannot afford to be down, so you must practice being mentally up. You must practice acting as if you were up so you can call upon this mindset when it matters most.
You must train your brain similarly to the way you train your body. You must include adversity training in your repertoire of practice in sport and life. Practice acting awake when you are tired. Practice acting motivated when you are dragging or feeling lazy. You may be surprised to find that when you act a certain way, you begin to feel that way. We have studies that back this up.

Look alive! Feel great! Go for the gold. Both teams were champions yesterday. And both goalies are people to aspire to be like. Just make sure you learn the lesson here.

Gene Zannetti
Peak Performance Specialist
genezannetti@gmail.com
908-337-6143
Genezannetti.blogspot.com