Building Confidence in Young Athletes: New Strategies for Coaches

Confidence is the backbone of athletic success. It fuels players' ability to take risks, recover from mistakes, and embrace challenges with determination. However, confidence isn’t something that happens overnight—it must be developed through intentional coaching strategies and an environment that encourages self-belief.

Many young athletes struggle with confidence due to fear of failure, peer comparison, or external pressures. As a coach, your ability to nurture confidence in players will not only impact their sports performance but also their personal development.

The Role of Confidence in Youth Sports

Confidence isn’t just about believing in one's abilities—it’s about trusting the process, taking ownership of improvement, and feeling empowered to make decisions under pressure. According to a study in the Journal of Applied Sport Psychology, confidence plays a crucial role in an athlete’s ability to perform under stress, adapt to challenges, and sustain long-term engagement in sports.

How Confidence Impacts Performance:

• Encourages Risk-Taking – Confident athletes are more likely to try new skills and push their limits.

• Reduces Anxiety – A confident player is less likely to overthink mistakes and more likely to focus on the present.

• Promotes Team Leadership – Players who trust their abilities are more vocal and engaged in team communication.

• Increases Practice Efficiency – Confident athletes put in more effort during drills, believing their hard work will pay off.

While some players naturally exhibit high confidence, others need structured guidance to develop it. Let’s explore coaching strategies that focus on building confidence in ways that haven’t been previously discussed in this channel.

New Strategies for Building Confidence in Athletes

1. Build Mental Endurance with Exposure to Challenging Situations

Many young athletes struggle with confidence because they fear failure. Instead of shielding them from difficult scenarios, expose players to controlled challenges that gradually increase in intensity.

Tip:

• Introduce “chaos drills” where athletes must make quick decisions under unpredictable conditions (e.g., practicing with limited time on the clock or with defensive pressure).

• Incorporate high-pressure scrimmages that simulate game-time stress, helping players build confidence in their ability to perform under challenging conditions.

2. Normalize the Concept of “Good Nerves”

Many young athletes mistake pre-game nerves for a lack of confidence when, in reality, even professional athletes experience anxiety before competition. Teaching players to embrace these feelings can help them manage performance anxiety.

Tip:

• Have players rate their pre-game nerves on a scale of 1-10 and discuss how those nerves can be used as a source of energy rather than a reason for doubt.

• Share examples of elite athletes who openly discuss their pre-game jitters and how they use them to fuel their performance.

3. Develop Decision-Making Confidence with “Ownership Coaching”

Instead of micromanaging athletes, encourage them to make in-the-moment decisions during games and practices. When players feel trusted to make choices, their confidence in their own judgment grows.

Tip:

• During scrimmages, allow players to call their own plays or defensive adjustments and discuss the outcomes afterward.

• Use guided questioning instead of directives: Instead of saying, “Pass the ball sooner,” ask, “What options did you see in that situation?”

4. Use Storytelling to Reinforce Confidence-Building Moments

Stories have a powerful impact on memory and motivation. Sharing personal anecdotes or famous athlete experiences can help young players see that confidence is built, not inherited.

Tip:

• Tell stories of professional athletes who overcame early struggles in their careers and became stars through perseverance.

• Share personal moments from your own sports experience where confidence wavered and how you overcame it.

5. Reinforce Confidence Through Body Language Awareness

Many young athletes don’t realize how their body language affects their confidence and performance. Teaching players to adopt strong, confident body language can significantly shift their mindset.

Tip:

• During practice, ask players to “walk with confidence” when stepping onto the field or court—chest up, shoulders back, and purposeful strides.

• Show athletes videos of confident body language versus defeated body language and discuss the impact of each on performance.

6. Assign Leadership Roles to Every Player

Confidence often comes from responsibility. By giving every player a leadership role, you reinforce their value and belief in their abilities.

Tip:

• Rotate small leadership roles such as “warm-up leader,” “drill captain,” or “motivational speaker” to ensure every player experiences moments of responsibility and ownership.

• Have players lead parts of practice by demonstrating a skill or guiding a team huddle discussion.

7. Build Confidence Through Focused Breathing Techniques

Teaching young athletes to regulate their breathing can help them reset their confidence in moments of doubt.

Tip:

• Introduce “box breathing” (inhale for 4 seconds, hold for 4 seconds, exhale for 4 seconds, hold for 4 seconds) as a pre-game confidence booster.

• Incorporate breathing resets after mistakes to help players refocus and regain composure.

8. Help Athletes Develop a “Highlight Reel” of Their Successes

Athletes often focus on mistakes rather than victories. Encouraging them to keep a personal highlight reel (physically or mentally) of their best moments can boost confidence when they feel uncertain.

Tip:

• Have players write down or record their best plays and achievements, then review them before games to reinforce self-belief.

• Encourage them to visualize successful moments before stepping onto the field or court.

Helping Players Learn to Manage Their Own Confidence

While coaches play a huge role in confidence development, young athletes must also take responsibility for maintaining their self-belief. Teaching them mental habits that reinforce confidence can lead to long-term success.

Teach Players to Identify Confidence Drainers

Many athletes sabotage their own confidence through negative self-talk or unrealistic expectations.

Tip:

• Have players write down thoughts that cause self-doubt and then work together to reframe them in a positive way.

• Encourage players to replace thoughts like “I always mess up under pressure” with “I’ve succeeded before, and I’ll keep improving.”

Establish “Confidence Routines” for Pre-Game Preparation

Confidence routines help players shift into a focused, self-assured mindset before competition.

Tip:

• Encourage players to create a pre-game playlist, mantra, or movement routine that puts them in a confident state before stepping onto the field.

• Assign each player a unique “power move” (e.g., clapping hands, taking a deep breath, nodding) to trigger a confidence reset.

Final Thoughts

Confidence is not something athletes are born with—it is developed through experience, encouragement, and intentional training. By integrating these strategies into your coaching, you can create an environment where young players feel empowered, resilient, and eager to push their limits.

Key Takeaways for Coaches:

• Expose players to challenging situations to build mental toughness.

• Teach athletes to view pre-game nerves as a source of energy.

• Use ownership coaching to develop decision-making confidence.

• Reinforce confidence through body language training.

• Assign leadership roles to every player to instill responsibility.

• Help athletes develop breathing techniques and confidence resets.

• Encourage athletes to build a mental highlight reel of their successes.

By consistently applying these techniques, coaches can ensure that every player—regardless of skill level—develops the confidence needed to perform at their best, not just in sports, but in all areas of life.