Soccer Mental Performance Drill Reference
A mental performance drill reference for soccer coaches to integrate mental skills into technical and tactical training sessions.
Ask GRM
GAME READY MINDSET® | GAME READY MINDSET® | FOR COACHES | High School and College Soccer
SOCCER MENTAL PERFORMANCE DRILL REFERENCE
Game Ready Mindset® Drills for Building Mental Skills Inside Training
High School and College Baseball
Game Ready Mindset® is a sports mental performance company that provides consulting, coaching and products for high school and college baseball athletes and teams. Our approach combines the mental, physical and emotional sides of performance — built on decades of experience working with elite athletes, teams and some of the world’s largest companies.
Every drill in this reference is designed to embed a mental performance skill inside a technical or tactical training activity. No extra practice time is required. The mental skill is trained in the same rep as the physical skill.
FOCUS DRILLS (F-SERIES) — BUILDING CONCENTRATION UNDER PRESSURE
NAME
PROTOCOL AND PURPOSE
F-1
Cue Word Finishing
Player calls their cue word out loud immediately before each shooting rep. Coach withholds the ball until the cue word is said. 3 sets of 5 shots per player. Trains the habit of conscious mental engagement before execution. Goal: cue word becomes automatic before every penalty and free kick.
F-2
Storm Rep Recovery
After a player misplays a pass or shot, coach freezes the drill. Player must complete full ARC Reset (out loud: “Acknowledge — Release — Concentrate”) before next rep is given. Drill does not continue until reset is complete. Trains reset speed under simulated pressure.
F-3
WIN Transition Drill
During a small-sided game, coach randomly calls “WIN” to any player in possession. That player must immediately call out their WIN (e.g., “forward run”, “top corner”, “second post”). If they cannot answer immediately, play stops for a 10-second group reset. Trains focus clarity during live play transitions.
F-4
Penalty Pressure Protocol
Players take penalties in front of teammates, coaches watching, one attempt counts in a team cumulative score. Before each kick: anchor (3 seconds), exhale (6-2-8 breath), cue word (internal), decision committed. Coach tracks rush behavior (run-up started in under 5 seconds after placing ball) vs. composed behavior. Trains penalty routine under observation pressure.
F-5
Set Piece Focus Sequence
Before every set piece rep in training, delivering player must complete: eyes to target (3 seconds), single breath, call their intended target out loud. Receiving players call their run before the ball is played. Trains collective pre-execution focus as a team habit. Transfers directly to match set piece execution.
ENERGY DRILLS (E-SERIES) — BUILDING ACTIVATION AND RESET UNDER FATIGUE
NAME
PROTOCOL AND PURPOSE
E-1
Weather Check Opening
Every training session opens with a 60-second group Weather Check. Each player says their state (Sunny / Cloudy / Stormy) in sequence. Coach does not comment on individual states. Simply acknowledges. Creates a norm of honest self-assessment and gives coach a real-time read before physical work begins.
E-2
Second Half Energy Protocol
After every training scrimmage half and before every match second half: Energy Check (1–10). If below 7: 30-second group reset (one exhale together, cue word, WIN statement). If 7 or above: immediate re-start. Over a full season, players develop collective energy management as an automatic team habit.
E-3
Tired Rep Reset
In the final 10 minutes of a physically demanding session, coach calls “Stormy rep”. All players assume collapsed body language (head down, shoulders forward) for 10 seconds. Coach then calls “Reset” — players physically reconstruct Sunny body language (head up, shoulders back, exhale) and immediately execute a technical rep. Trains the physical-to-mental reset sequence under genuine fatigue.
E-4
Bench Energy Management
Substitute players maintain their Energy Check number during the match and report it to the coach before coming on. Any player coming on below 7 completes their ARC Reset on the touchline before entering the pitch. Trains the mental preparation habit for substitutes — the most common source of second-half mental fatigue failures.
E-5
Storm Simulation Scrimmage
One team is designated the “Storm team” for a 10-minute scrimmage. Storm team players must display collapsed body language (heads down, no communication) for the first 3 minutes, then reset collectively on coach’s call and compete at full intensity. Other team competes normally throughout. Debriefs: What did Storm team notice? What did Normal team notice? Builds awareness of collective body language as a performance variable.
E-6
Post-Match Mental Report
Within 24 hours of every match, each player completes: Weather state at kick-off, Energy level at half-time, Number of ARC Resets used, One thing they controlled mentally, One mental focus for next match. Coach reviews collectively across the season. Tracks mental performance independent of results.
Game Ready Mindset™ | Scott K. Wilder | Text/Call: 415-205-6060
Scott@Coachwilder.com | gamereadymindset.co
About the author
Scott K. Wilder is the founder of Game Ready Mindset™, a program and platform for teams and athletic programs, working with players, position groups, and teams in baseball, soccer, softball, and volleyball. He holds a Master’s from the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology (now Sofia University), an MBA from New York University, and a Master’s in International Studies and Conflict Resolution from The Johns Hopkins University, with coaching credentials from Georgetown University, Brian Cain’s MPM Program, the National Federation of High Schools, and FC Barcelona Football Club. He is the author of Millennial Leaders, Find What Energizes You (just published), and Compete in Any Weather.