Football
Swiss Football · Mental Performance Coaching, from Academy Level to Professional Football
Physical talent alone is not enough to reach professional football.
In today’s game, the difference is often decided by mindset: confidence, focus, and the ability to perform under pressure.
How to make a difference ?
Your preparation is complete. Except for the essential part.
Your players train 5 days out of 7. They have a fitness coach, a medical staff, a video analyst. But when the moment of truth arrives, a national team call-up, a professional contract on the line, a penalty in the final, they are alone with their mental state.
The scientific evidence is clear: professional footballers who have succeeded displayed distinctive psychological skills from a young age, greater self-confidence, strong commitment, and an ability to handle pressure that their peers simply did not have.
This is not only talent. It is work. And it can be trained
Mental toughness is the most decisive psychological factor in professional footballers’ performance because it enables them to face difficult situations and navigate periods of crisis without losing sight of their goals.
A practical approach, not a clinical one
Mental training is not therapeutic psychology. It doesn’t come into play when something is broken; it comes into play to help players go even further. My work is rooted in the day-to-day reality of soccer: the locker room, the training week, match day, the pressure from the coaching staff, the demands of an entire season, in short, the field.
My experience
I’m a mental coach, rooted in Swiss football at every level since 2012
No generic approach. A precise knowledge of the ground: early-stage selections in youth football, academy pathways from FE12, M15 to M21, the pressure of national team gatherings and selections, the transition to professional football, and the demands of the Super League, Challenge League and Women’s Swiss Super League.
Among the players I coach :
- A female player followed from her M19 academy all the way to a professional contract in the Women’s Swiss Super League and her selections for the Swiss national team (M19) in 2025 and 2026
- Three players selected for the Swiss national teams (M16, M19 and M21) and two Footuro (ASF) players (M19 and M20)
- Swiss professional players playing in european and international championships
- Referee (UEFA/FIFA) active in Swiss Super League and at international level (ECup and WCup)
- More than 70 players from: Servette FC, Servette FC Chénois Féminin, Lausanne-Sport FC, BSC Young Boys, Neuchâtel-Xamax FC, FC Sion, Winterthur FC, FC Bavois, Yverdon FC, Stade Nyonnais FC, FC Versoix, FC Lancy,
Recognised by the Swiss Football Association:
In 2025, I joined the “Talent Manager” training programme of the Swiss Football Association (SFA), working with the Talent Managers of the academies at FC Basel, BSC Young Boys, Neuchâtel-Xamax FCS, FC Sion and Servette FC.
In 2019, I was already delivering training sessions for coaches at Neuchâtel-Xamax.
RTS Sports TV:
In July 2025, I was invited by RTS Sports national TV to appear in prime time on the programme “Un soir à l’Euro” to comment on the mental performance of the Swiss women’s national team during UEFA Women’s Euro 2025.
A strong mental culture is built at every level
Individual coaching for players
At the highest level, performance is decided first and foremost mentally.
Mental strength is not developed superficially or halfway. It is built within a confidential, structured, and demanding framework.
I support female and male football players who want to reach a lasting next level, including young talents from age 10 in :
- Managing pressure and emotions during matches
- Gaining self–confidence and resilience in the face of failure
- Strong concentration and decision–making under pressure
- Succeeding in the transition to higher levels, where mental strength becomes decisive
- Building a career and an identity centered on personal balance, the pleasure to play and the well-being
Precise, personalized, results-oriented work to turn potential into real performance. Follow-up sessions are available in person in Geneva or online. Season-long support available. Sessions in Geneva or online.
Programs for clubs and academies
Clubs that integrate mental training in a structured way observe significant improvements in performance, resilience, and overall well-being of their players and coaches. It has even become a standard in academies (France, UK, Spain) that develop high-level players.
A structured, visible, and sustainable impact
Each program is tailored and closely monitored: objectives are defined together with the management committee, regular check-ins ensure progress. The impact of mental training is not an abstract promise, it is visible in the development processes of talents and tangible at every stage of the season.
I work with clubs to:
- Individually coach and support their coaches in their daily work with their teams
- Train their coaches in mental training tools: emotions management, building confidence, stabilising performance across the season
- Integrate mental preparation into their talent selection and development processes
- Evaluate their programs and identify areas for improvement within their performance structures
- Lead conferences and workshops to support technical and sports management
References: Swiss Football Association Talent Manager Programme 2025, FC Basel, BSC Young Boys, Neuchâtel-Xamax FCS, FC Sion, Servette FC.
TESTIMONIALS
Professional player, Swiss Women’s Super League, Swiss National Team (U19)
“I used to struggle with managing my emotions during matches and lacked self-confidence, which directly affected my performances. Thanks to mental coaching, I learned techniques to set goals (both short- and long-term), stay focused through breathing exercises for example, and approach my matches with greater calmness.
Little by little, I became more consistent — both in my performances and in my confidence. Today, I’m able to stay clear-headed and make better decisions. My level of play is now much more consistent.
This work allowed me to take an important step forward in my football development, with real progress mentally.”
Professional goalkeeper, Challenge League, Swiss national team (U19)
“As a goalkeeper, I see mental preparation as a fundamental requirement for high-level performance. This position demands a wide range of mental skills, including sustained concentration and strong resilience.
For me, mental training was the missing link that helped me break through a real performance ceiling and unlock a higher level of consistency and impact.
I strongly recommend this work to any athlete who is serious about optimising their performance.”
Academy midfielder, Swiss national team (U16)
“Mental coaching gave me an extra tool and an extra edge to perform to calm my stress, to be clear and free in my mind. You train your brain to be ready for the match, to structure your thoughts and your emotions. From my experience, what separates a good player from a top player is their mindset. We are all good players, but those who reach the highest level often have one thing extra: the right mindset.”
Professional assistant referee, Switzerland, UEFA/FIFA
“What I was looking for with mental performance coaching was that extra percentage that would allow me to perform at an even higher level to complement my technical and physical preparation. Arode was attentive to my needs and the specific demands of my role. Drawing on her experience and expertise, she helps me develop concrete tools to better manage my match preparation and approach major events with composure. I feel more confident now, and more capable of staying focused on my goals. Her approach helps me maintain a positive mindset and make progress in instant decision-making and in accepting mistakes. Today I feel mentally stronger and better equipped for the demands of high-level refereeing. Each session confirms that this is an ongoing process, one in which Arode consistently brings new keys to progress.”
Women’s Academy Technical Director, Swiss national coach U19
“The collaboration with Ms Andreetto was conducted with exemplary professionalism. The support provided to the players and her interventions were always highly relevant, working towards a shared goal between the mental coaching work and what was being implemented at club level. Arode’s expertise was not focused solely on professional success above all, it centred on the human development of the players involved.”
Head coach U21 academy, Switzerland
“I valued having regular contact with Arode to discuss the development of the academy players. It allowed me to speak openly about challenges in order to better support them on the pitch and help them progress, for instance, in helping one player become more decisive. Arode also made me more aware of developmental rhythms in players and helped me better understand the psychological needs of young players.”
Men’s and women’s team coach (ASF), Switzerland
“I commissioned Arode to deliver awareness sessions on the mental dimension of performance for coaches and a women’s squad, as well as individual coaching for a professional player. She rose to every challenge brilliantly. The athletes came away with practical tools for the next stages of their careers and with an excellent impression. Working with Arode means finding a professional who truly listens to your needs and expectations, and who brings a sharp and relevant perspective to every challenge raised. Her ability to listen, to communicate, and her sense of humour were all consistently and warmly appreciated.”
Ready to make mental training a standard, not an option?
Whether you are a player pursuing a professional contract, the parent of a young talent, or the sporting director of an academy, the conversation starts here.