How to score against the opposing team before you even step onto the pitch.
Danny Andrews joins Footy Addicts to talk to you about the best practices to be at your best on the pitch. It’s the first step to being the best footy player you can be!
Being the best team on the pitch doesn’t always come down to having the best players. Team confidence and a positive mindset also plays a big part in ensuring a team’s success. With this in mind, UK teamwear supplier Kitlocker ran a survey of 500 UK males, aged between 18 and 45, to discover what factors would increase their confidence in an amateur football match.
Here’s what the survey revealed:
Looking at these results, it is clear that it doesn’t take great measures to boost the confidence of a team, and simple steps can make a huge difference to their performance as a result. Here’s how you can use this information to your team’s advantage:
Sleep your way to success
‘Feeling refreshed’ was the most popular response from the survey, which was no surprise as amateur football is inevitably slotted in between day jobs, home and family commitments and life in general. It goes without saying that work deadlines, unsettled nights with young kids and that extra pint after work on a Friday will affect sleep quality and ultimately performance on the pitch the following day.
Poor sleep quality is a problem that affects many people, with even professional footballers seeking the help of the experts to overcome bad sleep habits. Elite sport sleep coach Nick Littlehayes has been brought in to work with the England football team, Real Madrid and several Premier League clubs, including Arsenal, Man City, Chelsea and Southampton to help ensure that players are getting the best quality shut eye to improve their game.
Littlehales’ top sleep tips
- Start a pre-sleep routine 90 minutes before you go to bed, turning off TVs, mobile phones and any other devices that emit a bright light.
- Have a shower before going to bed to encourage the body to begin cooling down and easing naturally into a sleep state.
- Keep your bedroom at a cooler temperature, ideally between 16-18°C.
- Before going to bed drink a glass of warm milk to aid the production of serotonin and melatonin, the sleep-inducing chemicals.
- Caffeine and drinks high in sugar are a big no-no prior to bed.
- Avoid meals that are high in fat near bedtime. Not only do they take a while to digest, they also raise body temperature, which can slow down the sleep process.
- A decent game deserves a decent pitch
A good quality pitch undoubtedly affects the ease and enjoyment of the game, enabling players to perform to the best of their ability. Obviously the state of the pitch for your away games is out of your control, however if your club has a regular home pitch it is essential that it receives regular maintenance from either the land owners or the club itself.
- During the playing season, keep grass between 25-30mm. If possible, use a good quality mower to create an even clean cut without tearing or squeezing grass.
- Keep grass weed-free to improve aesthetics and improve ease of play.
- Ensure grass is treated with the correct nutrients to keep it strong and healthy.
For clubs operating on a tight budget, it may be worth encouraging a volunteering arrangement where players offer their services for maintaining the pitch. You may even find that you are eligible to apply for a grant to renovate the pitch if it is in a particularly bad state.
- A little praise goes a long way
The third most popular response from the survey stated that praise from the manager went a long way towards increasing confidence among players. Boosting the morale of a team or individual player often results in them having more passion for the game, ensuing a better result, which in turn will further increase morale for future games.
Even the best of the best aren’t immune to an inspiring team talk, as Cristiano Ronaldo confirms in his interview following Real Madrid’s victory over Juventus in the Champions League final, "Zidane gave us a very positive halftime team talk and told us he really believed in us".
The right kit speaks for itself
Two other popular responses were to do with the team’s kit and how professional or unprofessional the team appeared. Stepping onto the pitch in a slick, matching kit can provide a big confidence boost for players, uniting them as a team and making them feel like they are ‘the ones to watch’. Similarly, watching the opposing team step onto the pitch in a shabby kit can also be a morale booster, as it signals that the team aren’t as professional and don’t present as much of a threat.
Creating that all-important first impression can really set the tone for the entire match: a team that appears united and professional will instantly appear intimidating (regardless of the ability of the players!), immediately putting the opposing team on the back foot.
If your team’s current strip isn’t up to scratch, building a new team kit doesn’t have to be as costly, (or stressful!) as you may anticipate. Companies such as Kitlocker will help you set up your own club store so that players can buy their own kits, and can often offer discounts for bulk purchases. Although investing in kit may feel like an unnecessary expense, you will find that it pays off in terms of team morale and subsequent play.
It all goes back to psychology
Even the most skilled player will fall flat if they are lacking in confidence. In amateur football, where rising stars need to be nurtured, finding simple ways to improve morale and increase team solidarity can make a huge difference.
The good news is, as the above points highlight, it doesn’t take a lot to make a big difference in team morale and when it comes to confidence, a little encouragement can make a team go a long way.
