The importance of self-awareness in soccer players

Thierry Henry had this to say about self awareness.

” It separates you as an athlete when you become self-aware. I think I was real fortunate to become that way early. We had a great talent who was coming up with me . At 17-18 we felt like we were on the fast track, but we had no control for the girls…none. Ian Wright used to always say that most up and coming stars won’t make it because of this (even many veterans). You hear it, but my boy did not listen and at 23 he was done with the sport and now he is a cautionary tale. Out of money and out of time.”

“As an athlete it’s less about words and more about results. What you do is everything. That’s a fact. The gaffer pulls the strings to some degree, but if you get results, then it is hard to keep you off the pitch. My self-awareness came in my preparation. If we trained at 10 am, then I needed to be up by 8:30 am. I would stretch for a while, watch the television, take a shower, get  a snack then go see the trainer to get stretched more thoroughly. What I knew was that if I got up at 9:45am and tried to show up at practice, then I would be sluggish. When sluggish physically-I was not sharp mentally, and if you want to score goals that is not an effective combination. Nobody who is good at anything gets away with shortcuts for long. It is hard to imagine anyone who has had lasting success, who takes shortcuts.”

“If you don’t figure out the best way to be prepared for training, scrimmages and games …as obvious as that sounds- you will not last. I always brought my game face to training. I have had more success because I take responsibility for my life. My family did not have it easy. They had to work. I find it ridiculous if I can’t take the three hours I need to be sharp… serious enough to be ready for it. What if a Doctor only got ready for the big days?   It’s simple physics, man, if I am out wasting my energy or fluids at night and the defender matched up with me has been sleeping, is rested, hydrated and has a plan that next morning…more times than not I will lose. You get success through success and you have success through preparation.”