This is why Jamie Young is A-League fans’ number 1

“To focus on one thing you have to dissolve the many distractions,” the Brisbane Roar keeper tells FTBL. 

Young takes a mindfulness approach. 

Clearly, it works. 

He was voted by A-League fans as the best player last season. 

To put that into context, A-League fans rated Young higher than Italian magician Alessandro Diamanti and A-League top-scorer, Socceroo Jamie Maclaren. 

It’s rare that a keeper wins such a fans' award. 

And Young’s story is both inspiring and a testament to his mental strength and growth mindset. 

The Roar keeper was dropped at the start of last season.

He had to adjust his game and fight his way back into the starting XI. 

He did. 

Spectacularly well. 

Enjoy some of his outrageously good saves below

Did you know the star keeper is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Queensland? 

He’s specialising in the Psychology of Sports Coaching.

Two and a half years to go and guess what?

He’ll be Dr. Jamie Young. 

Perhaps he’ll still be pulling off outrageous saves when he has Dr in front of his name?

It’s this growth mindset that has seen this footballer also gain a Bachelor in Exercise and Sport Science. 

The 35-year-old wrote his dissertation on human genomic research in professional football. 

The former England national team youth team keeper, who has Scottish and Sri Lankan heritage, joined Roar in 2014. 

He signed up after over a decade in the UK. 

He applies much of what he’s learning to his A-League career and how he implements a mindset philosophy into his life?

“I like philosophy and an understanding of human motivation," he says. 

And that can be seen on game day, as the shot-stopper reveals here to FTBL. 

Jamie Young’s game-day routine for home matches.

"MINDFUL MORNING"

“I like to keep it pretty relaxed and not think about football. 

“I get up around 8.30 am. 

“I would’ve already meditated by then. 

“I’ll probably read a book, have a coffee, eat something like poached eggs, spinach, toast, and avocado and have a stretch.

“What I like to achieve going into a game is quieting the mind down and focusing the mind solely on the game. 

“I keep the reading not sport-related.  

“Actually, I remember getting off the bus in Shanghai reading a book called ‘The Subtle Art Of Not Giving A F***’. 

“It was before we beat Shanghai Shenhua 2-0 when they had Carlos Tevez. 

“Talk about not giving a f***! Tevez was on like a million a game!

"RESTFUL AFTERNOON"

“After a chicken/salmon and veg lunch, I’ll sleep and quieten everything down before changing and going to the stadium. 

“I definitely don’t get a feel of a football. 

“I like to try not to think of the game at all. 

“Future tense thoughts are uncontrollable. 

“And lead you down a path of anxiety and what-ifs."

MEDITATION AND ‘WARTIME'

“I'll arrive at the stadium about two hours before the game. 

“I set my gear up, a bit of banter with the players and there’s usually a team talk. 

“I’ll then meditate for 10 minutes. 

“To focus on one thing you have to dissolve the many distractions.

“Then there’s my pre-activation routine and I might listen to some music in my ears. 

“I like Tool [legendary US metal band]. 

“They have this new album and some songs are like 15 minutes long!

“It’s like meditation, almost. 

“I used to listen to Slipknot, Metalica, Pantera, too.

“I also look at images of inspiring saves. 

“It’s a bit corny but I like to visualize what other keepers are doing to inspire me to perform.

“When the game comes that’s when we think about the game.

“One thing. Football. 

"And that’s a great thing to be thinking about. 

“Not thinking about mortgages or bills or charity work, study, or coaching. 

“It’s one chance to be part of something that matters to people. 

“I really immerse myself in the moment."