WHEN YOU PLAY WORSE IN MATCHES THAN TRAINING (AND HOW TO FIX IT)

Do you play great in training but struggle to perform in matches? You’re not alone. Many footballers search for answers to questions like ‘ why do I play worse in matches than training ?” Or “ How do I stop overthinking in football ?” The truth is, match-day pressure, nerves, and lack of confidence can all affect your performance. In this blog, you’ll discover why this happens – and how to stay calm under pressure, build confidence , and perform at your best when it matters most.

Over the last 10 years I have had the pleasure of working with many Footballers, some continuously for 2 to 3 seasons through my Football Hypnosis Program .

One of the most common challenges they face is;

“ Why do I play worse in matches than in training ?” 

“ Why can’t I perform as well as I do in training ?”

This is something I come across with almost every Athlete at the beginning.

 There can be a number of reasons for this . For example ;

  • Feeling they need to perform at their best or the manager will not pick them again, 
  • Having family watching them in the crowd, 
  • Knowing a scout from a higher level team is watching, 
  • The pressure of needing 3 points to avoid relegation or secure promotion.
  • The importance of a cup game.

All of these forms of external pressure that create noise and take away from what really matters ….simply playing your game.

So the question you may be asking is;

 “ How to stop overthinking in football ? “

There are many ways to approach this, 

In my sessions, I;

  • Teach and record  techniques that you can apply outside of sessions, tailored specifically to you 
  • Use proven Hypnosis methods to create deeper, faster shifts at the unconscious level.

This can involve direct or indirect communication with the unconscious mind , helping you respond differently under pressure without having to consciously “Try” so hard in the moment.

Sports psychology and CBT are both great approaches, and I respect them. They give athletes tools to work with consciously , which is valuable.

However, many of my clients who have previously tried those approaches say things like;

“ Hypnosis the way you do it, feels  faster AND I still feel in control “ 

And that’s important to me, that you feel empowered, not dependant.

Visualisation For Football

Visualisation for Football is a key part of high level performance.

As part of the process, we create personalised hypnosis audios designed specifically for your game.

These allow you to mentally rehearse the exact situations you want to improve.

For example;

  • How to stay calm under pressure in a game , 
  • How to reset quickly after a mistake in a football match
  • How to be calm and focused taking penalties
  • How to maintain intensity right through to the final whistle

This builds familiarity in the mind, so when those moments happen real life, they feel natural rather than overwhelming.

Loss of Confidence after injury in football

This is very common across all sports.

After an injury, players often experience hesitation, sometimes a thought like;

“ what if I injure myself again “ , 

Other times, it’s just a feeling in the body.

The issue is that hesitation can actually increase the risk of repeated injury, because there’s less commitment in the movement, whether that’s a tackle, sprint or change of direction.

The hesitation often comes from what I describe as a protective mechanism in the mind. Its role is to keep you safe, but sometimes it becomes overprotective based on past experiences.

Think of it like an overprotective grandparent , well intentioned, but not always helpful in high performance situations.

The key is not to remove this part, but to retain and reassure it, so you can trust your body again and perform freely.

This can be done through a combination of visualisation and deeper unconscious work.

Final Thoughts

If any of this resonates with you, you’re not alone, and it’s something that can be worked on and improved.

If you’d like to explore this further click the contact tab and I’ll send you a link to book a free 45 minute consultation.

We’ll have a chat, understand where you’re at, and explore how hypnosis could help you perform at your best more consistently

  • Rich

‘ The English Hypnotist ‘