How To Build Confidence For Youth Sports
I know I’ve written about confidence before but this is a topic that will come up all the time. Let’s start at the beginning of building confidence and really break this down. So, what is confidence? It is a thought or a belief that you can make something (anything) happen. All your thoughts and beliefs generate feelings. When you have the confident feelings, all the “I CANs” outweigh the “I cant’s”. Training with me will not only help your children build confidence but also for adults who want to develop it for themselves. This can help you throughout life. Confidence for sports performance for you or your kid or maybe you need some for romance, business success or for handling any difficulties that may happen in your life.
Do you know what it takes to be confident?
When you start implementing my applied sports psychology practices, start with the conscious intention to build it just like you do any physical skill. Most people just hope it will just show up like some magical experience will….. just happen. For some, it may just do this. We look at this people for having all the luck in life. They’ve been successful in many endeavors while we struggle with the basics. Waiting around for the success is will not make it show up any faster. I am here to tell you that building confidence is a learnable, developable skill that you study; you practice; you feel it and you work it. These are mental skills you learn just like with any other skill. You aren’t going to wake up one day after listening to someone give you a word of advice and all of a sudden……you are more confident. I’m sorry to tell you, it doesn’t work this way. You don’t wake up one morning and know how to drive a car. It takes practice just like building confidence does!
It takes a plan and commitment to build the mental/emotional skills.
The key to this is getting specific in your goals. Let’s say “I want to be more confident in public speaking”. This statement is too vague and general. Getting more specific with the tools and plans is what you need. Let’s just start with your goal or outcome. Let’s say if it is making new friends, state how many. If it is relationships goals, talk about getting the partner of your dreams in specific details. In sports state what position you’d like to play or what level you’d like to compete at. It is all about the specifics! This is what I teach in my mental toughness training. Start with a decision TODAY!
Next, you need to have the commitment to not only get your goal but to achieve your goal. Make a declaration to someone who cares about you, someone who is around you, write it down in a journal and declare it to yourself. Tell yourself when you look in the mirror. This all fuels the actions. Start with all the steps it will take so you can break it down. Taking small steps will get you where you need to go in sports, in work, and in life. With every small step accomplished you’ve just increased your confidence. It will keep building with each step taken until you reach your goal and your outcome. You will have pushed through and conquered the hardest thing that has held you back. This is really powerful stuff!
Start with 3 lists.
When working with me you will get some homework to do. This one is a favorite of mine. You want to make Three Lists:
- Your accomplishments
- All the things you are grateful for
- The great things people have said about you
Now is the time to get specific with tons of details. These lists should be massive lists. All the little things that have any meaning to you. The second part of this, “What about you made it happen?” If I was going to start my list it would start with “I was able to make it across the monkey bars in first grade.” What made that happen? I worked hard and practiced every day at school and working on them till my hands hurt so that way I could make it all the way across.
By working with me doing this mental toughness training you will start to see that the “I can’s” are bigger than the “I can’t’s.” Make these lists and continue to add to them.
Feel free to ask me, challenge me on any of the information you are receiving. Leave me comments on my blog, call me or send me emails. Let’s build this confidence that you already have. I’m available so I can help you grow and develop all that you will learn in my training and give you the confidence in all that you will learn. This will take you not only to the level of your training but give you the tools you need to last you a lifetime.
Want to learn more about building confidence in life. Give me a call today so we can schedule you an appointment.
You’ve got this!
Diana Pasquarello
Mental Toughness Trainer
