We have a clear & memorable mentality framework that underpins how we mentally prepare for training and games so we can perform at our best.
Game face
Put simply, your game face are two key words that describe you at their best. This can be accompanied by a role model/animal to help inspire you.
ANTs
Sometimes, though, automatic negative thoughts occur that stop you playing in your game face. These are ANTs. Our aim is to avoid an infestation of ANTs. To avoid this, you are encouraged to learn & identify what your ANTs are.
Controllers
To help you squash ANTs and get back to your game face, you should have a controller. This is a specific, controllable action to get you back to your best. These can include, for example, a self-talk script, or a small physical ritual.
we are attackers
Underpinning our mentality is our attitude to “attack every opportunity”. As a team, we…
- Attack the ball when pressing
- Attack the goal to score
- Attack the ball on set pieces
- Attack the space with the ball
- Attack the game to perform
- Attack the competition to win
To bring this to your life, you are encouraged to reflect on the end of each session on…
“How well did I attack every opportunity today?”
When you reflect on this, try to rate yourself out of 10. Think about, for example, how well you performed in your game face, and how effectively you squashed your ANTs.
You’ll find visual reminders of this on the whiteboards in our environment. You are also encouraged to discuss this with coaches during and after training sessions and matchday.