No one wants to talk about "choking" in soccer, but it happens at all levels of soccer from recreational to professional. It is what every athlete fears the most -- to feel embarrassed by blowing a big game. Everyone is different in how they experience pressure and ultimately how it affects them. Some athletes thrive on pressure whereas others collapse under pressure. Even the best athletes in the world can, at times, crumble under intense pressure.

When we interviewed Michelle Akers (former US Women’s Team Gold Medalist), we asked her what mental skills separate the good from the great. Akers said that your ability to cope with pressure would determine how great you become. She explained that the best athletes live for the game winning penalty kick in the last minute. Champions believe in their ability to execute when the game is on the line and everyone is counting on them.

“The great players really enjoy the moment when there’s no time left on the clock and there’s a penalty kick and either you score the goal and win the game or you miss and you lose. A lot of players would hate to be in that position. The ones that are special, live for that. So your either going to have the guts to try or not. The great players somehow have this love of being in a crunch time moment. The harder the game, the more challenging the players to play against, the more fun they have, and the more they enjoy being out there. That was the case for me.”
-Michelle Akers-

The best athletes in the world use pressure to their advantage and can perform at there absolute best in crunch time. However, not every world-class athlete is perfect. Stuff happens, especially when you have the lead and start to play defensive – you start to protect your lead and before you know it your opponent finds their rhythm and suddenly becomes more aggressive and confident.

You can see it all the time in soccer. The athlete with the most confidence in crunch time -- willing to lay it on the line -- will prevail almost every time. How it is that a confident-looking athlete can lose confidence and momentum right at the wrong time in the game? We think it comes from doubting their ability to execute when it counts the most.

Three Mental Game Tips to Help Soccer Players Thrive in Crunch Time

Below are three mental skills you can apply to avoid a mental game collapse and play to your potential in crunch time.

1. Avoid the Choker Self-Label.
If you find yourself on the wrong end of the confidence continuum -- low self-confidence just at the time you need it most -- you should evaluate your beliefs and thoughts you bring into competition. For example, if I label myself as a crunch-time "choker," I will most certainly live up to this label and then not perform up to my ability in crunch-time. Therefore, it is important you use positive self-talk such as “I play my best soccer under pressure.” This will dial in your ability to see yourself as a winner.

2. Focus on Execution or Process
Some athletes when they enter crunch-time get distracted by thoughts such as "If I don't make this penalty kick, I will lose it for the team" These thoughts detract you from what is important for successful execution. It is essential to stay entirely focused on the cues that help you execute, such as staying confident and committing to going right or left on the PK.

3. Be a Crunch-time Player
During crunch-time, some athletes think they perform great and others know they have a good chance of losing their composure under pressure. In crunch time, it is important to stay positive and believe in your ability to execute when it matters. One way you can give yourself a boost of self-confidence is to recall past successful performances during high-pressure situations.

About the Authors:
Dr. Patrick Cohn is a leading Mental Game Coach and Jaki Hitzelberger, M.A. is a former Division 1 collegiate soccer player and a Soccer Mental Game Specialist. Pickup their free soccer psychology e-book, 7 Costly Mental Game Mistakes that Block Soccer Player’s Success at www.soccerpsychologytips.com