"Compete with a will for victory that knows no limits..."

Greater wise words of encouragement have not been spoken.  Soccer Tough is a great book to help elite players get your head on during the game.  For coaches, Soccer Tough helps explain how the soccer brain works in milliseconds and how to coach to get the highest performance out of your thinking soccer players. Soccer Brain is the logical next step to mastering the art of soccer success.

There are many soccer books on technique and style of play. Soccer Brain uniquely offers a comprehensive guide to developing the psychology and the social aspects of human development for real player development; helping players and coaching develop positive player mindsets and winning teams.

The environment that a coach creates, and the relationships formed with players, is the bedrock of performance and achievement. Soccer Brain discusses the culture of commitment and of cohesion, two crucial components for success on and off the field. This book is for soccer coaches of all levels and experience.

The author of these books is Dan Abrahams is Sport Psychologist. Abrahams books Soccer Tough is a best seller and he has just released his latest book; Soccer Brain.

Abrahams’ is excellent at de-mystifying sport and performance psychology. 

A former professional golfer, he struggled to successfully succeed in a highly competitive world and knows what it is like to compete under pressure. Abrahams is the lead sport psychologist to the Canadian Soccer National Youth Teams

. Dan also works with athletes and coaches from college and professional teams in the U.S. and across the globe.

  

I asked Dan Abrahams what inspires him as a sports psychologist and he answered, “What inspires me is when I get a call from a player or coach saying how much my work has helped. I'm passionate about de-mystifying sport psychology for players, parents and coaches - I want them to understand and apply the latest in psychological preparation with ease.” 

According to Abrahams, “Both Soccer Tough and Soccer Brain are written in an easy to understand and simple to apply manner. Soccer Tough is for the player and the coach while Soccer Brain is simply for the coach. Soccer Tough is one of the leading selling soccer coaching books in the States right now. Soccer brain is my new one. It helps coaches develop world-class player mindsets and a winning team. 

I was intrigued and wanted to know more, so I asked a few questions: 

Diane Scavuzzo: What is mental strength?

Dan Abrahams: Mental toughness is the art of managing your mindset under pressure. It’s making the uncomfortable as comfortable as possible.

Diane Scavuzzo: What is the best way to develop mental toughness? 

Dan Abrahams: On the pitch in coaching sessions as well as off of the fieldm the best way to develop mental toughness is through mental rehearsal.

I talk about mental strength in Soccer Tough and in my new book Soccer Brain. In Soccer Brain I dedicate a whole chapter to the concept of adding mindset training into normal soccer training sessions. 

As I say to coaches - always insist on mindset. By this I mean communicate mindset. Insist on seeing great body language. Insist on players being focused. Don't just say these words - actually mean them. Stop training until you see them happening.

Diane Scavuzzo: What does soccer is a game of mindset mean?

Dan Abrahams: Soccer is a game of mindset because the brain makes it so. Soccer works in seconds but the brain works in milliseconds.

The brain is constantly throwing out thoughts and feelings and the player competes. And the brain loves to attach itself to problems. It loves to focus on the bad refereeing decision and the goal that's gone in against and the mistake you've just made. It bookmarks failure and focuses your mind on them.

Diane Scavuzzo: How important is preparation?

Dan Abrahams: You cannot perform effectively without preparation. Adding a mental routine to a physical routine is a must. As I always say to my players - you don't kick off when the game kicks off, you kick off an hour before. I want to see my players alert, alive and lively as they warm up. I want to see them sharp. This sets the tone for success.

Free chapter of Soccer Brain available - click here!

According to Amazon's reveiw of Soccer Brain: Coaching soccer is demanding. Impossible to perfect, it requires a broad knowledge of many performance areas including technique, tactics, psychology and the social aspects of human development. The first two components are covered in detail in many texts - but Soccer Brain uniquely offers a comprehensive guide to developing the latter two - player mindsets and winning teams.

MORE SoccerNation's Soccer Lovers' Guide - please note Soccer Tough was also reviewed earlier.