Process Over Score
Mindset
Legend
- player
- coach / parent
- movement path
How it works
Focus on process goals (making the right decision, tracking back, communicating) rather than the scoreline during a game.
What you need
- cones
- soccer ball
- scrimmage vests
- goals
Your focus
Outcome focus creates anxiety; process focus creates growth. Teaching players to set and measure personal process goals during games builds the intrinsic motivation and resilient mindset that leads to better long-term development and performance.
Before a 10-minute small-sided game, each player sets one personal process goal (e.g., 'I will make eye contact before every pass').
Players write goals on a slip of paper.
Game is played; score is not tracked.
After the game, each player rates themselves 1-5 on their process goal.
Players share their rating and explain one moment they succeeded.
Debrief: how did focusing on process change how the game felt?
Helpful cues
- Did you do your process? That's today's win, score is secondary
- Your process goal is in YOUR control; the score is not
- The player who improves their process improves their score eventually
Adjust the challenge
Make it easier
Strip it back
Coach assigns the same process goal to all players so they're focused on one thing.
UpLVL it
Add the next challenge
Players also give each other process feedback, peer coaching on mindset goals.No account needed
Build a practice plan
Add drills, keep the plan in this browser, then share a link with your staff or parents.This library helps you find the right drill. Inside UpLVL the right drill finds the player.
This library helps you find the right drill. Inside UpLVL the right drill finds the player.After every practice, UpLVL automatically surfaces the drills each player needs to work on most. See it for yourself.