Lower the cost of mistakes to reduce fear of failure
09 May 2026
When a miss meant losing the shootout, elite penalty takers looked away from the keeper or rushed the kick more often. Fear of failing isn’t just nerves. It changes how players prepare, where they look, what they say to themselves and whether they go again.
The mistake isn’t the fear
The clearest example comes from shootouts. Jordet and colleagues watched every penalty in 36 shootouts at the World Cup, Euros and Champions League — 359 kicks in total. They split the kicks into two types. If you score, you win. If you miss, you lose. On the kicks where missing meant losing, players showed more avoidance: looking away from the keeper, getting set and shooting in a hurry. They also missed more.
Podcast: Why the False 9 Is Dead — Episode 47·Rueda de Prensa: "Cambiamos la Estructura en el Descanso"·Artikel: Die Rückkehr der Dreierkette in der Bundesliga·Blog: Le Pressing Haut — Une Arme à Double Tranchant·Entrevista: "O Futebol Brasileiro Precisa Repensar a Marcação"·記者会見：「後半のシステム変更が勝因だった」·Conferenza Stampa: "La Difesa a Tre Ci Dà Più Equilibrio"·Podcast: Waarom Ajax Teruggrijpt naar Totaalvoetbal — Afl. 32·مقال: الضغط العالي يعيد تشكيل كرة القدم العربية·인터뷰: "K리그의 전술 혁명은 이제 시작이다"·
Podcast: Why the False 9 Is Dead — Episode 47·Rueda de Prensa: "Cambiamos la Estructura en el Descanso"·Artikel: Die Rückkehr der Dreierkette in der Bundesliga·Blog: Le Pressing Haut — Une Arme à Double Tranchant·Entrevista: "O Futebol Brasileiro Precisa Repensar a Marcação"·記者会見：「後半のシステム変更が勝因だった」·Conferenza Stampa: "La Difesa a Tre Ci Dà Più Equilibrio"·Podcast: Waarom Ajax Teruggrijpt naar Totaalvoetbal — Afl. 32·مقال: الضغط العالي يعيد تشكيل كرة القدم العربية·인터뷰: "K리그의 전술 혁명은 이제 시작이다"·
Press Conference: "We Didn't Expect Them to Press So High"·Article: La Révolution des Latéraux Inversés en Ligue 1·Interview: "Der Gegenpressing-Ansatz war entscheidend"·Podcast: El Mediocampista Box-to-Box Ha Vuelto — Ep. 89·Artigo: A Linha de Cinco — Defesa ou Covardia?·Blog: Perché il Calcio Italiano Sta Riscoprendo il Catenaccio·ポッドキャスト：Jリーグの戦術トレンド — 第25話·مؤتمر صحفي: "غيرنا الخطة في الشوط الثاني"·
Press Conference: "We Didn't Expect Them to Press So High"·Article: La Révolution des Latéraux Inversés en Ligue 1·Interview: "Der Gegenpressing-Ansatz war entscheidend"·Podcast: El Mediocampista Box-to-Box Ha Vuelto — Ep. 89·Artigo: A Linha de Cinco — Defesa ou Covardia?·Blog: Perché il Calcio Italiano Sta Riscoprendo il Catenaccio·ポッドキャスト：Jリーグの戦術トレンド — 第25話·مؤتمر صحفي: "غيرنا الخطة في الشوط الثاني"·
Podcast: The Asymmetric Back Four — Episode 112·Entrevista Exclusiva: "El 4-3-3 Ya No Es Suficiente"·Conférence de Presse: "On a Changé le Système à la Mi-Temps"·Podcast: Pressing und Gegenpressing — Folge 58·Articolo: Il Ritorno del Trequartista nel Calcio Moderno·Conferência de Imprensa: "Mudámos a Abordagem no Segundo Tempo"·블로그: 현대 축구에서 수비형 미드필더의 진화·
Podcast: The Asymmetric Back Four — Episode 112·Entrevista Exclusiva: "El 4-3-3 Ya No Es Suficiente"·Conférence de Presse: "On a Changé le Système à la Mi-Temps"·Podcast: Pressing und Gegenpressing — Folge 58·Articolo: Il Ritorno del Trequartista nel Calcio Moderno·Conferência de Imprensa: "Mudámos a Abordagem no Segundo Tempo"·블로그: 현대 축구에서 수비형 미드필더의 진화·
Analysis: The Rise of Hybrid Wing-Backs·Analyse: La Montée du Bloc Médian Agressif·Data: Set-Piece Routines Across 12 Leagues·Entrevista: "La Presión Alta es Nuestra Identidad"·Feature: How Set-Piece Coaches Are Changing the Game·Artikel: Die neue Rolle des Sechsers·
Analysis: The Rise of Hybrid Wing-Backs·Analyse: La Montée du Bloc Médian Agressif·Data: Set-Piece Routines Across 12 Leagues·Entrevista: "La Presión Alta es Nuestra Identidad"·Feature: How Set-Piece Coaches Are Changing the Game·Artikel: Die neue Rolle des Sechsers·
Video: Como o Botafogo Cria Superioridade no Meio·Podcast: Les Transitions Rapides en Ligue 1·Press Conference: "The First Pass Was the Trigger"·Notebook: Rest Defence and the Counter-Press·Interview: "The Diamond Midfield Gives Us Control"·기사: 하이프레스 전술이 아시아 축구를 바꾸고 있다·
Video: Como o Botafogo Cria Superioridade no Meio·Podcast: Les Transitions Rapides en Ligue 1·Press Conference: "The First Pass Was the Trigger"·Notebook: Rest Defence and the Counter-Press·Interview: "The Diamond Midfield Gives Us Control"·기사: 하이프레스 전술이 아시아 축구를 바꾸고 있다·
Scout Report: The Return of the Libero·Blog: Why Wide Centre-Backs Are Playmakers Now·TACTICAL BRIEF: BOX MIDFIELDS EVERYWHERE·Thread: Build-Up Traps in the Half-Space·Röportaj: "Taktiksel Esneklik Anahtardı"·Artículo: El Declive del Delantero Centro Tradicional·
Scout Report: The Return of the Libero·Blog: Why Wide Centre-Backs Are Playmakers Now·TACTICAL BRIEF: BOX MIDFIELDS EVERYWHERE·Thread: Build-Up Traps in the Half-Space·Röportaj: "Taktiksel Esneklik Anahtardı"·Artículo: El Declive del Delantero Centro Tradicional·
Get ahead of the game
Sign in to continue reading.
Sign in
Sign in to read during the free access period. No credit card required. By continuing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
Free access period
Read every Research report free during the free access period. Plans will be $144/year or $15/month. Annual saves 20%. Opinion posts and the Weekly Recap remain free.