How does one regain confidence after playing a sh1t game? How do you recover? I played in a semi-organized pick up game yesterday in a local park. We were playing 12v12 on less then half of a normal field with small goals/no goalkeepers. I was playing right forward. Our side was not creating any chances and the ball was not getting to me. I was constantly marked and I never had a chance for a first time shot. I touched the ball maybe a total of 15 times. Of those fifteen I squeezed off two my best crosses ever, but nobody could connect (but were they were close). The only other times I could get to a ball was under extreme pressure, with two or more defenders on me, while collecting a crap pass, and I lost possession. The other time a fellow chipped the ball over me to the space ahead, but it bounced awkwardly and by the time I could control it, all passing/shooting options were closed. Then I had three exceptionally lousy touches in a row on high balls, and after that I completely lost the confidence in my skill and then got dispossessed and started playing like I didn't care. So, like, what am I supposed to think? I came in with my confidence high and did good. Am I supposed to transfer blame on the conditions? I mean, I don't think you're suppossed to blame others, but they were indeed playing like crap with the exception of a few, and they didn't let me be my most productive. Should I just be content with knowing that I did my best under the conditions?
I feel you man, nothing is worse than playing in a crowded pick up game and playing like total @$$. I say this from personal experience. Dude, you had 1/2 the space that you would normally have you were getting garbage passes if you even got the ball. It's hard to get into the rythm of a game when the conditions are like that. Shake it off man, it happens to everybody except for Ronaldinho = ) I would say it was the conditions definitley and you couldn't establish a rythm because you didn't get the ball. Don't even sweat it man, just focus on your next time on the pitch relax and enjoy yourself. That's when everyone plays at they're best.
thanks for the encouragement. I played again today with twice the space and half the people and I was rockin
If you suck at a pick up game, don't worry. Beside too little space there's obviously another important factor: you don't know many people, many people don't know you; you may even see them for the first time in your life. Therefore you will unlikely recieve any good assistance as a forward. In pick up games forwards often have to fight for the ball much more than in regular organized leagues, which makes a game a lot harder. So don't think it's your fault or something, just keep up the good work.
Just try to nutmeg as many people in the next pickup game you play. This always picks up my confidence in pickup games. Most guys try to too hard to win the ball back in pickup games, so its easy to nutmeg them because they rush into a challenge with reckless abandon. If not, try to nutmeg the scrubs. There is always a couple of scrubs in pickup games just asking to be schooled.
If anyone here is from the Chicagoland area, my team practices on Wed nights at 630 in Elk Grove! Pm me if interested! We are a 30+ team always looking for people to practice against.
wen in pickups, play the whole field, dont stick to one area b/c most ppl are doing their own thing, so you have to be constantly moving around to a position that you likely to get a ball in........
When a game is like that what I do is just play the simplest football possible. Pick the easiest pass, make sure you get all your controls right and make sure your team keeps it. Make sure your movement is good off the ball and you'll grow in confidence if you get it right.
Believe it or not i played a few times down the park on that with the same if not more people using those stupid goals that look about about a metre by a metre. Its close control game you dont have time on the ball you dont get to cross the ball you have to play tight forces one touch, first time shots, passing movements upto the goal like, high paced an knackerin game youve got to keep moving at all times to make as much space as you can. I hated it but did me good when i was doin it, got a few goals past the op even know the used a fat keeper who filled the net just godda keep your head up stay focused on findin a way to beat the keeper, if the ball isnt coming to you go back an force the play foward an go with it, no time for tricks just little touches one-twos and riding challenges, oh an alot of my specialities hittin the post an crossbar (although that dont help).
Because many people in this type of games are fat donuts and they can't run a full game on a full size pitch.
thats just a load of balls mate, ever thought that not everybody has a full size pitch area on there front door step?