There are many factors that can change the way you play at practice and in the game. For starters, think about the intentions you set before a practice and before a game. One is naturally more stressful than the other, so by nature, the way you think about one isn't how you think about the other. There are also external factors, such as the session your coach creates, how many sessions you have per week or how many teammates show up for practice. During games you have the refs, weather, number of subs, grass vs turf, and whether your coach or assistant shows up.

Our goal here isn’t to find an excuse or a reason for things not being the way we want them to be. Rather, to recognize what we can and can’t control. Lastly, show up early and plan ahead. Make sure you’re up early and prepare your soccer bag (even if you have to do it the night before). Make your game-day experience as stress-free as possible. Think about what you did during training and how it applies to the game. Did you work on passing, count how many passes you completed. Did you work on crossing the ball? Have some help counting how many crosses you created or got in behind. Do you have a trainer who’s going to set up IDP’s and weekly goals for you?

Use your data and take notes to track your progress. Something as simple as how many times you took players on 1v1 or or how many touches you had on the ball. Be mindful and proactive with your actions before/after games and practices. What did you eat? Did you sleep well the night before? Did you have to pull an all-nighter for school? Use a journal to help you establish habits and routines around your games and training sessions. Note the differences. See what patterns come up. You will soon see that with some minor adjustments, your games will mirror your practices.