Confidence tricks

Success at all levels of youth soccer comes from the individual development of players - and each club will have a different view on how to accomplish this.

Yet, in the past, clubs have all too often been guilty of setting youth players up to fail and diminishing their self-confidence, mainly because of timescales and pressure.

But for a club to have an effective youth development system, it is now widely recognised they must promote and develop confidence within their players.

Developing this self-esteem within players allows them to believe they can overcome any obstacle, as they thrive to achieve their full potential - and, in some instances, reach the elite.

Therefore, if we are to fully flourish as a coach within youth development, it is essential that we promote self-confidence within our players. 

So, what techniques can we utilise in our coaching, on and off the pitch, to promote a self-confidence environment?

Positive manner

Praise your players. Although everyone knows it is important to give praise, it is vital to do so meaningfully.

Developing players’ ability to self-praise for their hard work stimulates self-esteem and self-confidence.

As a coach, praise hard work regardless of the outcome. If a player lacks hard work, ask them questions to reflect on how much effort they put in.

Success

On the training pitch, success builds self-confidence. Within the planning, delivery and reflection of a training session, you must ensure there is success built in - practices need to be challenging, but achievable.

Success encourages players to face and overcome challenges, creating a positive feedback loop to further self-confidence and achievement.

Freedom

By giving players the freedom to express themselves, they will enjoy their sport to a greater level, augmenting their self-confidence.

Freedom additionally stimulates a player’s frontal cortex in their brain, advocating creative thinking.

“Children have a massive capacity to think and behave creatively. An effective coach will support and encourage this”, wrote Pete Sturgess, the Football Association’s technical lead coach for 5-11 year olds.

Patience

Do not put a timescale on development. Each player will progress at different non-linear rates that change due to innumerable factors.

As coaches, we must be patient and supportive, and encouraging players to feel comfortable and self-assured as they are developing. 

Pressure on youth players does not correspond to self-confidence or development. 

Turn negatives into positives

If a player makes a mistake, think about their intentions.

If a direct pass was inaccurate, consider their thought process beforehand. The player might have shown excellent vision or pre-orientation. 

As a coach, you can turn a negative outcome into a positive, thus elevating self-confidence. 

In conclusion, the emphasis is on you as a coach to create an environment which will support the development of players’ self-esteem.

Can you be a coach who implements this within your club and helps develop the next generation of confident and positive soccer players?