Mental Health Skills that Players Use in Competing in the “World’s Game”

The FIFA Women’s World Cup (#FIFAWWC) is the pinnacle of the global soccer experience for elite players. It’s what young players dream of and the culmination of years of hard work and sacrifice. For women’s sports fans and supporters, especially women’s soccer fans, it’s also a celebration of all that’s been gained around equity and a reminder of what more must be done. As a sporting event, it’s frequently described as a physical endeavor, but the margins between nations have become increasingly narrow, making the mental side of the game more critical. The lives of many players revolve around a four-year cycle. They plan their training and essential life decisions and events for the next World Cup. This focus on the “cycle” creates enormous pressure on a narrow window, especially for women, given their nations are watching, and their livelihoods are on the line.

What are a few mental health skills that players use in competing in the “world’s game” on the biggest stage for players??

• Compartmentalizing - High-level athletes are often skillful at focusing on the task at hand and putting stressful and potentially paralyzing feelings of self-doubt, fear, or lack of confidence in a box in their minds until later.?
• Talking about thoughts and feelings. Compartmentalizing is helpful in the short term, but over the long time or even throughout a tournament like the World Cup, processing thoughts and feelings with trusted support after each game and practice is healthy and helps performance. When compartmentalizing, great athletes utilize resources, like mental health professionals and sports psychologists, to unpack their stressors, thoughts, feelings, and reactions. Increasing equitable access to these professionals is vital.???
• Rituals & Routines - Players utilize fine-tuned pre-game routines that sometimes span hours or the entire day leading up to the game to give them a sense of calm and ritual to prepare them for a match.?
• Reframing - Win, lose, or draw how you think about or narrate what happened to yourself can change your outlook and mindset. The athletes that “win” mentally have developed skills to consider the most productive ways to view the situation.?
• Visualizing - Athletes utilize this strategy to create a picture in their head and tap into the five senses to rehearse ahead of time. They may rehearse a skill, outcome, emotional reaction, or environmental element like screaming fans during a high-pressure moment like taking a penalty kick to mentally prepare themselves, increase muscle memory, and improve strategic thinking.?
• Celebrating - The #USWNT was criticized for dancing after their draw with Portugal, but joyful, free play creates scoring chances and is what champions do. Celebrating your victories, no matter how small, supports overall wellness.?

Mental health is personal and varies by culture and context, but there is always room for the average person not playing in the Women’s World Cup to take a page from elite athletes or vice versa.?

How might you use these strategies, and what have you taken away that you might implement daily or in your professional or personal life??

Rebekah Roulier, LMHC, is the Deputy Director of Doc Wayne, a Boston-Based non-profit, a former NCAA Division 1 soccer player, and a former collegiate soccer coach.