Written by: Stefan Peter, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Hey soccer family! As we gear up for our next season, let's dive into some eye-opening research that could potentially change the game for us. When considering what we need most to perform well, most people would mention skills, physical fitness, tactical understanding, and, of course, a bit of luck. But there's more to reaching the top level of performance. Today, I want to share some studies that uncovered some surprising news for many of us. So let’s dive into it.
After the London Olympics in 2012, experts of the Institute for the Psychology of Elite Performance at Bangor University in Wales teamed up with UK Sport to uncover what makes Olympic champions tick. The findings of the Great British Medallist Research Project where presented at the 2015 World Class Performance Conference in London and later shared in Scientific American. They offer some serious food for thought:
Those are the key findings of the study:
Coach-Athlete Relationship: The study underscores the importance of strong, supportive relationships between coaches and athletes, emphasizing open communication and mutual respect.
Personal Development: The study also highlights the significance of self-awareness and mental strength for success in sports, advising athletes to engage in reflection, goal-setting, and develop coping strategies. (Something many athletes, especially soccer players don’t do on a regular basis – yet.)
Self-Awareness: Ultra high performers show deep understanding of their strengths, weaknesses, and emotions, enabling them to adapt and make informed decisions during competition.
Life History Differences: The research also shows that ultra high performers often have had challenging life experiences, which have shaped them to be resilient and have a growth mindset, making them natural mentality beasts.
The power of the coach-athlete relationship
We all know the feeling when we click with our coach – right? Turns out, that's a real game-changer for ultra high performance! The study showed that the bond between coaches and athletes is key. When there's trust, support, and open communication between them, athletes perform at their best. It's like having a teammate off the field who's got your back no matter what. I am sure you know how powerful it can be for your own development if you have someone who believes in you.
And there are also countless examples in soccer as well. How many times have we seen players who may have struggled in one club environment, but suddenly find new life and success under a different coaching staff, despite possessing similar physical strengths and skillsets. This phenomenon definitely underscores the profound impact of the coach-athlete relationship on performance in my opinion.
The players personal development as ultra high performers
But before we rely solely on someone who trusts and believes in us, we need to trust in ourselves first. So let me ask you: „did you ever stop to think about what makes you tick, what your values are, what feels easy to you and what is hard for you? Well, it also turns out that knowing yourself inside and out is the second key ingredient for success and high level performance. Athletes who understand their strengths, weaknesses, and especially their emotional reactions in certain performance situations, can navigate the ups and downs of the game like pros. It's all about learning you, that’s what we call self-awareness, emotional intelligence and mental toughness. My four-step Emotionset-Method is exactly built upon that.
Meet Jurgen Klopp – The master of relationships
Okay, let's talk about Jürgen Klopp, the mind behind Liverpool FC's success for the last years. This guy knows a thing or two about building strong relationships. He's all about trust, empathy, and treating his players like family.
This is what two key players said about him.
Mohamed Salah:
"I'm very happy with him [Jurgen Klopp]. He always helps us on and off the field. He lets us be comfortable with our personalities. He’s very nice for the players and that’s important for us, also," Salah said in an interview with ESPN FC.
Virgil van Dijk:
"From day one, he [Jurgen Klopp] made me feel like a part of the family. He's been there for all of us, on and off the pitch," Van Dijk mentioned in an interview with Sky Sports.
Learning Jürgen Klopp’s playbook
So, what can we learn from his abilities as an outstanding team leader? In my opinion, it's simple, really. We need to prioritize support, communication, and trust within our squad. More importantly, we need to understand that respect alone is not enough, although everyone talks about respect all the time. But there is something stronger than respect and this is value. Valuing each other despite all the different personality types within a team is something that requires a bit of work and understanding. One way to find out more about each players personality type is my „Soccer Personality Test“ After completing around 30 questions we know exactly how to help the player improve communication with his teammates and how to create stronger bonds between crucial players based on their position on the pitch.
Here's a real-life example of how the "Soccer Personality Test" works
Imagine your goalkeeper and two center backs each understand their unique personality type based on the test result. We can then guide them, on how to communicate better with each other. By acquiring these skills, they'll understand each other much better and be able to organize and control the defense more effectively.
Time to implement
Here we go. Seems like the key to winning isn't just about skills and tactics—it's about the relationships we build and the support we give each other. But as a pro, I am sure you already knew all of this. However, the question that often remains is: How do I implement this as coach or where do I start as a player? This is exactly why I build my programs and coaching in a step-by-step process, similar to a workout plan in the gym, except this one is for the mind and our emotions.
Get in touch if you want to find out more, in the meantime
best wishes and best of luck for the new season,
yours Stefan Peter, MAS in Sports Health and Leadership
Stefan Peter, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Stefan Peter is an expert in personal development. He works mainly with international athletes and coaches in the fields of Soccer, Tennis, Basketball and American Football. His own experience with depression as a young athlete, after the death of his father, inspired him to become a coach and a mentor to athletes in similar situations. His major passion is to empower people to unlock their full performance potential and (re)discover inner fulfillment and performance joy. He is the creator of the 4 steps Emotionset-Method and holds a Masters Degree in Sports Health and Leadership.
