Meditation and Football: Training the Mind

Meditation is becoming increasingly important in professional football. Per Mertesacker — the former captain of Arsenal — has openly stated that he turned to meditation to deal with severe anxiety. Meditation helps in centering attention, managing stress, and entering the "flow state" during a game.

Mindfulness — a technique of focusing on the present moment — is the most common type of meditation. Through 10-15 minute sessions, footballers learn to observe their thoughts by focusing on their breathing. This helps with the pressure before a penalty, provocations from opponents, and recovery after failure.

Mental preparation is not yet sufficiently developed in Uzbekistan's football. However, global experience shows that along with physical and tactical preparation, mental preparation is equally important. Young footballers are recommended to meditate for 10 minutes a day — this simple habit yields great results in the long run.