Confidence

A few years back our staff was able to spend an afternoon with Sports Psychologist Bill Beswick and I refer back to my notes a lot so today I would like to share with you his philosophy about building confidence in players and teams.  You can find more out about Bill and his teachings at http://billbeswick.com

As coaches we are responsible for:

• setting positive expectations
• building confidence
• turning potential into performance 

Confidence for players is believing they can overcome challenges. They can succeed because:

• they believe in themselves
• they believe in their team
• feel well prepared
• trust their coach

Down below is some lists about what a confidence breeding coach is like and what that should look like in practice and on game day.

The Coach
A positive role model
A realistic optimist
An expert teacher
A good communicator
A great listener
Relates well to their players
Enthusiastic, fun to be with
Possesses great patience
Always rewards good behavior
Calm and in control
Is bigger than the game

Practice
Hard work but fun
Has purpose and direction
Sets goals
Repetition without boredom
Helps every player improve
Is relevant to winning games
Gives every player a chance
Is biased to success
Avoids overcoaching
Avoids overtraining

Games
Good organization-no excuses
Players understand the game plan
Players know their jobs
Players feel prepared
Team surrounded by positive adults
The challenge is to be enjoyed
The coach trusts the players
The coach rewards good play
Mistakes, setbacks are dealt with positively
Responsibility without blaming
The result is part of the team's learning