Does My Athlete Lack Confidence?

Each time your athlete makes a mistake, does it cause a drop in confidence?

Does your athlete’s confidence bounce up and down?

Does your athlete make excuses for him/herself?

Does your athlete play well in practice, but not in games?

Is your athlete comparing him/herself to others, thinking that others are always better than him/her?

Does your athlete take feedback too personally?

Is your athlete constantly seeking approval from others?

Based on your answers, it’s unlikely that your athlete lacks confidence. This is, of course, great news! Participating in sports will help a child to build not only physical skills, but also very important mental skills. However, unfortunately, the positive mental benefits of sports are not always guaranteed. For your athlete to build the right mindset, including hard work, commitment, resilience, and confidence, it takes intentional coaching and parenting.

Based on your answers, your athlete seems to display some signs related to a lack of confidence. Sport participation does not automatically lead to your athlete building mental skills such as dedication, resilience, and confidence. These outcomes are only achieve through intentional coaching and parenting. It’s up to the parents to make sure that their athletes take the most out of their sports. Coaches and parents are responsible to help the athletes develop the right mental skills. Luckily, confidence is a skill that can be learned over time through practice and consistency. You, as a parent or coach, can help your athlete become a more confident person in general.

Unfortunately, your athlete is displaying the signs typically seen among individuals who lack confidence. As a parent, or coach, you need to recognize what is contributing to your athlete’s lack of confidence. How are you influencing him or her through your own mindset towards athletic performance? It’s very important to make sure that your athlete is not only developing physically, but also getting the best possible mental development. Luckily, confidence is a skill that can be learned over time through practice and consistency.