How to Increase Consistency in Young Players’ Performance

For parents and coaches of young soccer players, it’s a common frustration: a child or team looks fantastic in training, showing off their skills, decision-making, and athleticism, but come game day, their performance dips. Inconsistent play can be discouraging for players and everyone involved in their development. The good news is that there are strategies to help young players translate their training success to competitive matches.

By focusing on areas such as mental preparation, physical conditioning, and game-specific practice, we can address this issue and help young athletes shine when it counts. In this article, we’ll explore why consistency can be elusive for young players and offer five actionable tips to help them perform reliably on game day.

Why Do Young Players Struggle with Consistency?

Before diving into solutions, it’s important to understand why young players often struggle with consistency. Several factors contribute to this challenge, including:

Nerves and Pressure: The stakes of a match, especially in front of spectators, can cause young players to experience nerves or anxiety, which often leads to poor decision-making and hesitation.
Focus and Attention Span: Younger players may find it hard to maintain focus for the entire duration of a game. This can lead to lapses in concentration, resulting in missed chances or defensive mistakes.
Physical Development: Consistency can be affected by fluctuating physical capabilities. Young athletes are still developing coordination, strength, and endurance, so their performance might vary week to week.
Lack of Experience: Young players don’t yet have the match experience to deal with the unpredictable nature of competitive games. Handling pressure situations, adapting to different playing styles, and making tactical decisions are skills that need time to develop.

With these underlying causes in mind, here are five actionable tips to help young players improve their consistency on game day.

1. Create a Pre-Game Routine to Build Confidence

One of the best ways to help young players manage nerves and boost consistency is to create a reliable pre-game routine. According to sports psychologists, routines can help reduce anxiety and create a sense of control. Routines aren’t just for elite athletes—they can benefit players of any age.

Encourage players to establish a routine that helps them get into the right mindset. This might include:

A light warm-up that mimics what they’ve been doing in training.
Visualization techniques to mentally rehearse their performance.
Simple breathing exercises to calm nerves.

A consistent pre-game routine can reduce stress and set the stage for a smoother transition from practice to match day.

2. Recreate Game-Day Scenarios in Training

One of the most effective ways to build consistency is to bridge the gap between practice and match situations. Many young players excel in training but struggle during games because the pressure is different. A solution is to recreate game-day conditions during practice. This can include:

High-intensity drills that simulate match pace and encourage quick decision-making.
Small-sided games with specific challenges like limited touches or man-marking to mimic real-game pressure.
End-of-session scrimmages where the focus is on mental toughness and replicating game scenarios.

By bringing match-like intensity and unpredictability to practice, players will be more comfortable when faced with these conditions on game day.

3. Focus on Building Mental Resilience

Mental resilience plays a huge role in young players' ability to perform consistently. According to research from the FIFA Medical Assessment and Research Centre (F-MARC), psychological attributes such as confidence, focus, and emotional control are key factors in consistent performance. Coaches and parents can help players develop these skills by:

Promoting positive self-talk: Help players replace negative thoughts like “I can’t do this” with affirmations such as “I’ve done this in training, and I can do it here.”
Encouraging a growth mindset: Teach players to see mistakes as learning opportunities rather than failures. Players who believe they can improve are more likely to bounce back from poor performances and strive for consistency.
Setting short-term goals: Focus on achievable goals for each game, such as “complete five successful passes” or “maintain focus for the full half.” Achieving these mini-goals builds confidence and keeps the focus on performance rather than outcome.

4. Work on Physical Conditioning and Recovery

Young players are still developing their physical capabilities, and fluctuations in stamina or strength can contribute to inconsistent performances. Ensuring that they have proper conditioning and recovery routines is crucial. According to research by The FA (Football Association), endurance and agility are directly linked to a player’s ability to perform consistently over 90 minutes.

Regular conditioning: Include aerobic and strength training exercises in their routine to improve endurance, speed, and balance. This helps players maintain performance throughout the entire game, reducing the likelihood of physical drop-offs.
Emphasize recovery: Proper rest and recovery are just as important as training. Encourage players to follow good sleep habits, hydration practices, and post-match recovery routines to ensure their bodies are prepared for each game.

5. Improve Tactical Awareness Through Video Analysis

Tactical awareness is another critical aspect that separates consistent players from inconsistent ones. The more a young player understands the game, the better they’ll be able to make quick decisions under pressure. A great way to improve tactical awareness is through video analysis.

Watch professional matches: Encourage players to watch games with a focus on tactics. Help them analyze player positioning, movement off the ball, and decision-making.
Review their own performances: Where possible, review recordings of their games. Watching their own matches allows players to see where they excel and where improvements can be made.

Coaches can offer specific insights based on what they observe in the video, helping young players improve their understanding of the game and their role in it. Over time, this increased tactical awareness will lead to better decisions and more consistent performances.

Encouraging Long-Term Growth

While inconsistency is a natural part of young players’ development, following these strategies can help parents and coaches guide athletes toward greater reliability on the field. Building mental resilience, replicating game scenarios in training, and focusing on both physical and tactical development are key factors in this process.

By adopting a long-term approach that prioritizes growth over immediate results, young players can develop the consistency they need to succeed not just in soccer but in all areas of life. The key is patience, support, and structured practice—over time, these efforts will pay off, allowing players to reach their full potential.