In Episode 6 of Soccer Geeks, we were so excited to sit down with Marley Canales, a newly drafted player for Seattle’s OL Reign. Although she’s new to the team, here in San Diego, we’ve watched her come up through San Diego Surf and then move on to UCLA, where she played until recently.
Canales began her soccer career, playing at a small local club level as many players do. It wasn’t until high school that she came to play in San Diego. Although she was nervous about playing with new teammates, her dad encouraged her to stay and wouldn’t let her leave the car. In the end, she made it through tryouts and took the next step to improve her soccer skills. As she shared, “you don’t grow when you stay in your little comfort zone, and nothing changes. I knew I wanted to play in college and that I had big aspirations.”
Prior to her first year at UCLA, Canales had the opportunity to play at the U-20 World Cup. However, as a freshman, Canales did not get much game time. So, she put her head down and worked to become as fit as possible. After that, she was a four-year starter—and she finished up her UCLA career as a team captain. Throughout our conversation, Canales referenced the mental aspect of the game. Here are some of the tips she shared.
What Matters with Mindset
Mental health is important as a player, and regardless of the level you’re playing at, there are some mental components to the game that you can strengthen. Two questions to ask yourself as you play are:
- How do you respond to failure?
- How do you maintain confidence?
These are questions you can revisit over and over.
Canales also shared a very practical approach to the transitions she’s made at different career stages: “if this is what I want, I’m the only one who can put in the work.” It can help with all the high pressure to remember what is under your control and what is not.
Check out the full podcast episode to hear more from Canales, including her experience of the draft pick and some of the other challenges she’s faced along the way.