Confidence, a core tenet of mental toughness, has long been heralded as essential for an athlete’s optimal performance. Research confirms what many coaches already know, confident athletes dream bigger, work harder, think more effectively, and cope better with the stresses of competition.
What Confidence Is Not
Some athletes and coaches believe that the players who are the most outspoken and boisterous about their abilities are the most confident. However, athletes who brag the most may in fact be the most uncertain about their skills and abilities. Don’t mistake posturing for true confidence.
This false confidence can lead to counterproductive attitudes and behaviors
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What Confidence Is
Confidence is an athlete’s belief in his ability to be successful in his sport. Belief is the critical word. I’ve worked with athletes who had the ability to be successful but didn’t believe in their abilities. That lack of belief translated into a lack of confidence. Confidence derives from an athlete’s perception of his or her ability to meet the demands of the situation.
Can I make the game-winning free throw? Can I cover the opponent’s best receiver? Can I get a hit against this pitcher? Can I make the save on a breakaway goal? Basically, does the athlete believe she has what it takes in each situation?
Coaches, parents, and athletes often wonder where confidence comes from. This is especially true if athletes lack experience in new situations.
Over time in my own coaching and managing teams I have developed Six sources that will help an athlete with their confidence.
Numerous factors impact an athlete’s confidence. Here are Six proven sources of confidence that athletes can draw from.
1. Preparation
When an athlete puts their blood, sweat, and tears into practice they earn the right to feel confident. Athletes who push their bodies physically, work hard to master their abilities, and strive to get better have more confidence than those who don’t. It should come as no surprise that when an athlete believes they are prepared for the situation, they also feel confident.
2. Perceived Success
Perception is reality. I’ve personally won tennis matches and thought, “I only won because that kid was terrible.” That doesn’t boost one’s confidence.
Alternatively, I’ve lost matches and thought, “That might have been the best tennis I’ve ever played.” Notice, a player doesn’t have to win to perceive success. How athletes view success makes all the difference. Successes should be viewed because of ability, preparation, and demanding work. It is important to capitalize on successes when they occur.
3. Other’s Success
Athletes can gain confidence from seeing other teammates, friends, players, and teams be successful. Seeing others succeed can spur thoughts like: If he can do it, I can do it. If she can run that fast, so can I. If they can beat that team, so can we. I often refer to this as a “Why Not Mentality.”
4. Sense of Control
When athletes focus on what they can control, they feel more confident. Truthfully, athletes can always be in control of something – themselves. The choice is whether they focus on that or all the things they can’t control (referees, weather, crowd noise). Focusing on what lies within an athlete’s control gives him a sense of assurance in his ability to face challenges, cope with emotions, and focus on what’s most important.
5. Encouragement
When athletes believe that their coaches, teammates, friends, and parents have their backs, they feel more confident. No players want to believe they are out there on their own without support. Receiving encouraging words from others fuels an athlete’s confidence to perform her best.
6. Physical Appearance
It should come as no surprise that athletes are concerned with their appearances. Research on individual athletes found this source to be more important for female athletes than males. However, regardless of gender, when athletes feel they look good, they will feel more confident too.
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Coach Players to Build Sustainable Confidence
As any coach or athlete knows, confidence can be fragile, here one minute and gone the next. However, you can see that confidence comes from many diverse sources. While perceived success may be the most powerful source on its own, sustainable confidence is found when an athlete can combine multiple sources of confidence at once. Use these 6 methods to help players intentionally cultivate an enduring sense of confidence.
Until next time,
Coach Nye
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