The dates that all the teams want have arrived. It is the moment of the end, where it is about putting all the potential to achieve the set objectives.
The "all or nothing" appears, the decisive matches, European finals, promotions, playoffs, relegations. But... And live it knowing that a mistake could be the unwanted end?
Marcos Abad (left) warming up with Javi Jiménez (Elche CF)
That protagonist is the goalkeeper, who is directly responsible for the success or failure of an entire fan base, for the future of a club, for the future of his teammates... The magnitude of these decisive moments will be decisive in development. How far can we go and what are the controllable parameters?
«You have done it and you can do it again, what's more, the best is yet to come. But if you don't achieve it, don't feel like failure, you have achieved success, your success: that of your dedication. This is also called winning, the rest is football."
The course is in the final stretch, technical-tactical knowledge must be clinging to our competitive work. It is the moment of the emotional, of adapting our optimal state to the final day. One must project in his mind what has led him to achieve his current state, rely on work, on what he has learned.
EMOTIONAL PREPARATION
It is about isolating oneself from the cloudy context. Focus on the objective, eliminate our distorting "music": teams where I could go, titles I can miss, money I stopped earning, things I could do if...
The key is to be aware of the "now." Reach for the present, touch it and enjoy it…
Marcos Abad working with the Elche CF goalkeepers
Now, you can put a lot of effort into ensuring that your harmony reaches your maximum threshold, both physically and mentally.
PRE-MATCH FEEDING
If we listen to a specialist like Néstor V. Salar, he would tell us that the goalkeeper has different energy-nutritional requirements than field players, since the average distance traveled per game is less and he has explosive movements with a high muscle damage component (at perform jumps, stops, collisions with opponents or stretches that involve very aggressive movements).
«The key is to be aware of the now. Reach for the present, touch it and enjoy it»
In addition, he is a key player because from his position, he can give instructions to his teammates to avoid dangerous plays from the rival, so his state of attention must be permanent. This is why your energy reserves must be kept as stable as possible, since they will allow you to have better physical performance in these final moments, as well as maintain cognitive function that allows you to maintain reflexes and correct analysis of the plays (glucose for the brain).
On the other hand, the end of the football season coincides with the months of greatest heat and humidity, so dehydration must be avoided in these players in order to avoid muscle injuries (a hydrated muscle reduces this fact) and increased the perception of fatigue, which would lead to lapses in attention. Appropriate strategies before, intra and post-match are very important in terms of maintaining hydration and the energy component.
Marcos Abad working with the Elche CF goalkeepers
THE NERVES DON'T LET ME SLEEP THE NIGHT BEFORE
Sleep patterns can be decisive in these last nights. Trying to maintain behaviors that promote rest can help us achieve our best state. Avoid electronic devices, mobile phones, PCs, tablets or video games in the last moments of the day. Trying to have stable dinner times to arrive at that day being like clockwork can be of great help, in the same way as a brief reading before going to bed. They can act as relaxants and natural pressure relievers.
«We don't know if life will give us a similar moment, perhaps it will be the last and I have always advised that you can never say to yourself in the future: if I had done that»
We don't know if life will give us a similar moment, perhaps it will be the last and I have always advised that you can never say to yourself in the future "if I had done that...". Believe in your potential, it's time to relive your best games, your best training sessions, your best save... You've done it and you can do it again, what's more, the best is yet to come. But if you don't achieve it, don't feel like failure, you have achieved success, your success, that of your dedication, that of having devoted all your senses to giving your best. This is also called winning, the rest is football.
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