I have had trouble preparing for matches lately and I often feel very tired before matches and unmotivated. How do you guyz out there prepare physically and mentally for matches. Do you carbo load, take a day off before matches. Do you even think this has an effect on how you play?
rest is key. if you're feeling tired, most likely, your body is trying to tell you something. i have this problem...going way too hard for way too long. it has, in the past, resulted in injuries and very high fatigue levels. just accept that you're gonna take some time and rest, relax and EAT. eating is key. take in the nutrients your body needs...refuel.
When i'm tired and unmotivated, i just sit in front of the computer (can be considered rest) and reply to such topics as this while watching soccer clips (sometimes imagining myself in the goal inplace of Kahn or Barthez). Then I eat some energy food... protein bar or two and maybe a red bull or amp. on the way to the game, i listen to loud music. before the game, sit, shut your eyes, focus on the game and imagine yourself making every pass perfect, tackling any opponent with the ball cleanly, making runs and moves. maybe some of this will help.
I do everything as I would any other day. I dont have any bad habits like eating unhealthy etc. so I dont need to change anything for game day. Thats what I would suggest- go about like its just a normal day. This helped keep me from getting nervous.
Everyone is different. I myself take things so seriously that I have no need to get all rah-rah before games like American football players. I just need to sit down and let the tension well up within. When the whistle blows, I'm ready to tear somebody a new orifice. If that doesn't work, try biting the head off a bat, and drinking its blood. And then throw the carcass into the opposing team's cheering section and scream "This is what I'm going to do to your children!" But like I said, everyone is different.
Quite suprising really, there is nervousnes in me, but never tiredness before a game. like someone said, music is the key, and then eat if you dont feel energized. I get my moves going as soon as i see them cheerleaders.
Watching socca clips and blaring Bob Marley works for me. Music helps speed up your heart and tests have proven it actually helps you to play better. In the premier league *england* a poll was taken and eminem is the dominate artist listened to before matches. But don't play someting all soft, make it fast paced.
I do the opposite of most people: listen to calm "ambient" music. Adrenaline really kills my game, so I try not to let myself get excited before the match. I usually wear earplugs during warm-ups if there's loud music being played.
Usually before every game, I put my CD player on, listen to the music that I like, and imagine myelf doing everything right, with a lot of heart. If you feel tired during games, maybe you've to switch on and off. Let's face it, very few players, and the ones that are able to, play at the top level, are able to go after every single ball with intensity through the 90 minutes, maybe plus OT, maybe even PKs, so maybe if you're getting tired during games, start switching on and off. For example, if there's a ball you can contain and/or tackle, but you're gettin burned out by the striker, contain him well, wait for some help, force the mistake, your teammates will help you if they know what good "d" means. Then after a while, you'll have conserved enough energy to slide. Always be focused, not for one second take your brain out of the game--the slightest lack of concentration, and I guarantee you you'll lose in like every aspect. If you're tired before the game, sleep well, in the worst of cases 8 hours, if you can get 9/10 in, great. Good breakfast should include, fruit and cereal, preferrably without milk (because if you run too much, you'll vomit the milk), also some bread. Start eating breakfast at least 3 hours before the game warm-up starts. Right before warming up, a good "Powerbar" is nice. And maybe, and let's hope not, you can't get your heart and brain into the game anymore.
Cigars and Hard rock work for me. My pre-game ritual consists of smoking a robusto and listening to a special warm-up mix that ends with Prodigy's "Firestarter." I get the all-over relaxation of the cigar, balanced with the increased mental speed of the hard-driving beats. Works for me.
Everyone has their own style. I always visualize the runs I'm going to make, what I could do in a certain situation, and most importantly see the ball going into the back of the net. Then with my cd player still on I dribble using the different parts of my feet and practice shots against a wall. I always listen to soccer songs that I just randomly find, like England's National Team song, Man U songs, and always Ole.