Confidence on the Field: How Your Player Can Learn to Trust Themselves and Play Their Game
Confidence on the Field: How Your Player Can Learn to Trust Themselves and Play Their Game
When I think back to my own soccer journey, there’s one game that still sticks with me. I was playing with a higher-level team, and for the first time, everything clicked. I wasn’t overthinking, second-guessing, or holding back — I just played. I dominated. That day, I realized that confidence wasn’t about talent or hours on the training field. It was about knowing what to do, trusting yourself, and moving at game speed. That lesson has shaped every player I’ve worked with since.
As a parent, you’ve probably seen it too. Your player trains hard, gives their all in practice, but come game time, something changes. They hesitate, second-guess themselves, or shrink back from opportunities. That’s not a lack of effort — it’s a gap in confidence.
What Confidence Really Looks Like
In soccer, confidence isn’t about ego or swagger. It’s about clarity and trust. A confident player:
Sees what needs to happen on the field and executes without overthinking.
Knows their abilities and trusts the work they’ve put in.
Can reset after mistakes quickly — what I call next play speed.
Confidence is the difference between standing still and taking decisive action, between watching the game unfold and shaping it yourself.
Real Players, Real Growth
I’ve seen this transformation countless times with the players I coach.
Austin used to freeze or blame others when mistakes happened. By focusing on ownership and mindset, he learned to encourage teammates, take responsibility, and stay engaged — even when things didn’t go his way.
Josh struggled with inconsistency and doubt. Journaling, daily reflection, and small mindset habits helped him build mental resilience. Over time, he went from hesitant and raw to dominant and composed.
Kate had relied on her physical advantages early on, but when her peers caught up, she lost confidence. By returning to fundamentals and refining her technical skills, she regained control and self-belief.
In each case, it wasn’t a single drill or pep talk that unlocked their confidence. It was consistent effort, reflection, and learning to recover quickly — embracing the next play speed mindset.
Next Play Speed: The Confidence Shortcut
One of the most powerful lessons for players is learning how to reset after mistakes. Soccer is fast, and hesitation can snowball. Players who can shake off errors and move immediately to the next play develop both skill and self-belief.
As a parent, you can reinforce this by:
Modeling calm, supportive responses when mistakes happen.
Encouraging reflection instead of criticism: “What can you try on the next play?”
Celebrating effort, engagement, and learning over flawless execution.
This mindset helps players focus on what they can control, rather than dwelling on what they can’t.
Helping Your Player Build the Right Type of Confidence
The biggest misconception I see is parents trying to force confidence with more training or more volume. It’s not about quantity — it’s about quality and intention. You can support your player by:
Creating consistent routines that fit into their lives, even if it’s just 15–20 minutes of focused practice.
Encouraging reflection and mental routines, like journaling or visualizing positive outcomes.
Recognizing progress and effort, not just results.
By focusing on these areas, you’re helping them build a confidence that lasts — one rooted in preparation, skill, and mental resilience.
Confidence is Learnable
Your player can learn to trust themselves. It starts with intentional practice, consistent reflection, and developing the ability to reset at next play speed. With your support as a parent — helping them focus on the right habits, celebrate the small wins, and manage setbacks — they can grow into the player who dominates the game, just like I finally did that day on the field.
Confidence isn’t something you’re born with. It’s something you earn, nurture, and reinforce — on and off the field. And when it clicks, you’ll see the game open up in ways you never imagined.
If your player’s confidence feels up and down, don’t just wait for it to “click.”
Train with me and help them take ownership of their game — one rep, one mindset shift, one next play at a time.
Download “5 Ways to Help Your Player Build Real Confidence” and start putting it into action today.