Yury Kulikov
10 years ago today, I stepped off the field after my last professional game—a milestone that marked the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. For the past decade, I’ve taken everything I learned on the field—the victories, the mistakes, the lessons—and poured it into helping young players chase their own dreams and reach their potential.
The passion I had as a player never left; it simply found a new purpose. And as a coach, one of the most important lessons I try to instill in young athletes is how to handle mistakes and tough games. Mistakes are inevitable in sports, but how we respond to them can define our success—not just on the field, but in life. In soccer, and in life, it’s not about being perfect—it’s about being resilient, staying consistent, and learning with every step.
I started playing soccer when I was just six years old, and it didn’t take long for me to fall completely in love with the game. Soccer had a way of making everything else disappear. No matter what challenges I was facing—school, personal life, or even the migraines that plagued me as a kid—the moment I stepped onto the field, everything else faded away. During the game, my head wouldn’t hurt, my worries were gone, and all that mattered was the joy of playing.
There was no feeling quite like it: the euphoria after a hard-fought win, the rush of scoring a goal, or the pride of doing something great for your team. Looking back, those moments were some of the happiest moments of my life. They created an unbreakable bond with the game that still lasts to this day.
But soccer wasn’t always all joy. At the age of 13, I made it into the one of the top five football academies in the nation. For a kid who had only played at the P3-P4 level, to say that it was a significant achievement is an understatement. Suddenly, I found myself among some of the best young players in the country. The speed, skill, and maturity of my new teammates were overwhelming. I didn’t know how I made the team, but I quickly realized I had a lot of catching up to do. Every day felt like a battle to prove I belonged. And that’s when fun game turned into a job for me.
European soccer isn’t like the pay-to-play system here in the U.S. Each club has only one elite team per age group, with just 18 players on the roster. Clubs invest heavily in their players—covering everything from trainings, education, coaching, leagues, summer and winter gear, preseason in warm countries, international tournaments, all the travel, health treatments and everything else we could possibly need. My parents never spent a dime on my soccer. But with that investment comes expectation to deliver every day.
Coaches were extremely strict and demanding (coach Tolya is chill and fun compare to the coaches we had), and a few bad games could mean losing it all. Players lined up behind you, waiting for their chance to take your spot. I remember one instance where my coach told me before a 1v1 drill, “If he scores on you, you’re out.” Imagine the weight of knowing your dreams could be shattered by a single play. The anxiety and stress took its toll. I was terrified of making mistakes, and that fear held me back. In soccer, hesitation can be the difference between success and failure. Vision, intuition and flow come when you’re free to express yourself, not when you’re afraid of being yelled at or benched. While I eventually became a professional player and had a career I’m proud of, I know now that my fear of mistakes limited me from becoming the best player I could have been.
Twenty years later, as a coach, I reflect on my journey and realize the importance of making mistakes. Mistakes aren’t failures—they’re opportunities to grow. A player who is afraid to make mistakes will never reach their full potential. Soccer requires freedom, creativity, and the ability to learn from every misstep. But what’s important to understand is that they are two kinds of mistakes: good ones and bad ones. A good mistake is when a player tries to do the right thing, even if it doesn’t work out. For example, trying extraordinary move to dribble out of pressure or making a risky, but creative pass to build an attack. These mistakes teach valuable lessons and help players improve. A bad mistake, on the other hand, is playing it safe out of fear—like booting the ball aimlessly just to avoid consequences. Bad mistakes keep players stuck; good mistakes help them grow.
Parents, here’s my message to you: let your kids have fun. Let them make mistakes. Those car ride critiques or constant pressure to deliver are rarely as helpful as you think. Kids know when they’ve messed up—they don’t need to be reminded. What they do need is encouragement, guidance, and the space to enjoy the game.
Not every player will get to play in a World Cup, pro team or even college—and that’s okay. Soccer is about more than just achieving goals; it’s about the joy of the game and the lessons it teaches along the way. Those who truly love the game will carry that love with them, whether they will end up playing in Champions League Final or just a casual pickup game at the park. I know it, because at 35 years old, playing in a local beer league, the feeling is exactly the same as it was when I was six years old. After scoring a goal for a few seconds I magically turn into that happy little boy which is just trying to have fun. That joy is timeless, and all we want is to share it with as many young players as we possibly can. That’s why I’ve dedicated my life to this sport.
So, to all the players out there: If you let a mistake weigh you down—getting upset or dwelling on it—it can snowball, affecting not only your next plays but the rest of the game. In soccer, the game evolves rapidly, and every moment presents a new opportunity to change the outcome. That’s why staying calm, composed, and mentally strong after a mistake is crucial. Top-level players understand this better than anyone. Even after an own goal or a major error, they find ways to reset, adapt, and turn things around. They focus on the next play, not the one that’s already gone. This resilience often leads to remarkable comebacks and epic victories.
Mistakes happen, but the key is to approach every new moment as a chance to make an impact. Forget the error, play like it never happened, and you’ll keep the door open for success.
Don’t fear mistakes. Embrace them. Learn from them. Trust that with hard work and consistency, you’ll get where you want to be.
And remember—Soccer is a game, and games are meant to be fun.
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