Day in and day out, pro soccer players run drills and practice shots in an effort to imprint their physical actions into their subconscious. Repetition breeds muscle memory, all in the hopes that when called on, thinking is almost secondary. Any athlete wants to get into the rarefied air of The Zone — that place where things flow, where they work effortlessly.
But physical training is only one part of it. Psychologically, every player needs to find a delicate balance between shutting the world out and keeping what matters close. More than ever, it seems, players are doing it through their gear, blending ritual, tradition and superstition as they work to keep their heads in the game.