The Best Ways for Coaches to Help Athletes with Confidence
Confidence can make or break an athlete’s performance. A player who believes in their abilities will take risks, recover quickly from mistakes, and perform under pressure. But when confidence is low? Hesitation, self-doubt, and fear of failure take over.
As a coach, you have a huge influence on an athlete’s confidence. The right words, actions, and mindset strategies can help them develop unshakable self-belief—not just in sport, but in life. Here’s how you can build confidence in your athletes and help them perform at their best.
1. Focus on Effort and Progress, Not Just Results 🎯
It’s easy to celebrate winning—but if you want to build long-term confidence, focus on effort and improvement rather than just the outcome.
❌ Avoid: “We lost. That wasn’t good enough.”
✅ Try instead: “You worked hard and made great plays. Let’s keep building on that.”
When athletes know their effort and growth matter, they stay motivated even after losses.
2. Help Them Set Small, Achievable Goals 🏆
Big goals are great, but confidence comes from small wins. Help your athletes set achievable, short-term goals that give them quick success moments.
📌 Instead of: “We need to win the championship.”
🎯 Try: “Let’s focus on improving our passing accuracy by 5% this month.”
Each time they hit a small goal, their confidence grows—and they start believing they can achieve even bigger ones.
3. Give Specific, Constructive Feedback 🔄
Athletes need feedback to improve, but how you deliver it matters. Instead of general praise or criticism, make feedback specific and actionable.
❌ Unhelpful: “You need to be better at defending.”
✅ Better: “Next time, stay lower on defense so you can react faster.”
This way, feedback doesn’t feel like criticism—it feels like a tool for growth.
4. Encourage a Growth Mindset 💡
Confidence isn’t just about believing you’re good—it’s about believing you can get better.
Teach your athletes:
✔ Mistakes = Learning opportunities
✔ Hard work = Progress
✔ Improvement is always possible
Use phrases like:
🔹 “You’re not there yet, but you’re getting better every day.”
🔹 “Mistakes are part of the process—what did we learn?”
This mindset helps them stay confident even when things don’t go perfectly.
5. Help Athletes Reframe Negative Thoughts 🧠
Confidence can disappear when negative thoughts take over. As a coach, help your athletes flip the script when self-doubt kicks in.
🚫 Negative Thought: “I always choke under pressure.”
✅ Reframe It: “I’ve had tough moments, but I’ve also handled pressure well before. I can do it again.”
Simple mindset shifts can change the way athletes see themselves—and improve their confidence instantly.
6. Model Confidence and Positivity 🤝
Athletes mirror their coaches’ energy. If you stay calm, positive, and composed, they’ll feel more confident too.
✔ Use positive body language—stay relaxed and open
✔ Keep your tone encouraging—even when correcting mistakes
✔ Show belief in their abilities—“I know you’ve got this!”
If they see you believing in them, they’ll start believing in themselves.
7. Create a Safe Environment for Taking Risks 🚀
Athletes won’t grow if they’re afraid of making mistakes. Build a team culture where they feel safe to try new things without fear of embarrassment or punishment.
✅ Encourage taking risks in training
✅ Praise effort even when it doesn’t work out
✅ Remind them that failure is part of growth
When players know they won’t be judged for trying, their confidence skyrockets.
8. Use Visualization and Mental Rehearsal 🎥
Many elite athletes use visualization to build confidence before games. Help your players practice this by guiding them through mental rehearsals.
📌 Before a big match: Have them close their eyes and picture themselves playing well.
📌 During tough moments: Teach them to recall a past success and relive that feeling.
This helps train their brains to feel confident even before they step onto the field.
9. Support Athletes After Tough Performances 💬
After a bad game, confidence can take a hit. How you respond makes all the difference.
❌ Avoid: “That was disappointing. You need to do better next time.”
✅ Try instead: “Tough game, but we’ll learn from it and come back stronger.”
Helping them see setbacks as learning opportunities keeps their confidence from collapsing after one bad performance.
10. Encourage Leadership and Ownership 🏅
Athletes feel more confident when they have a sense of control over their growth. Give them leadership opportunities:
🔹 Let them lead warm-ups or drills
🔹 Ask for their input on game strategies
🔹 Encourage them to mentor younger players
Taking on responsibility boosts self-belief and makes them feel like a key part of the team.
Help Your Athletes Train Their Minds Like Pros!
Want to give your athletes the mental edge they need to stay confident under pressure? Our courses feature:
🎥 Videos from real athlete mentors
📄 Downloadable resources for building confidence
❓ Interactive quizzes to test their mental skills