The Confident Athlete Part One

We all want a confident athlete!
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The number ONE thing your athlete must possess in order to be confident is the ability to get over a mistake.​
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✨That's right, it's what they do after they mess up. That is the true sign of a confident athlete.
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👉 What kind of body language do they have?
👉 How do they react when they make a mistake?
👉Do they take it out on their teammates?
👉Do they yell at the ref or official?
👉Do they sulk or withdraw?
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OR, do they recognize the mistake and make adjustments to fix it?
Do they ask for feedback from their coach to make sure it doesn't happen again?
Do they recognize that failure and mistakes are part of the process and necessary for growth?
Do they put more time in during practice to work on their weaknesses?
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🌟We must teach our athletes that mistakes are inevitable. They do not define us, they do not predict the future, BUT they are necessary for progress and growth.
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It's how we handle our mistakes, how we react to negative stimuli, how we act in the face of failure. That is what leads to confidence.
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🌟So, when your child makes a mistake, don't dwell on it or catastrophize it. They are already doing that.
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Make sure they understand you support them no matter what, and PRAISE THE EFFORT, NOT THE OUTCOME.
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I repeat, praise the effort, not the outcome.
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It has nothing to do with their coach. It has nothing to do with how talented they are or how hard they've worked. Mistakes are part of the game.

Let's reinforce this concept and keep reminding our athletes to focus on the process and not the outcome.

Cheering from the sidelines,

Coach Leah