{"id":1241,"date":"2011-05-19T14:17:18","date_gmt":"2011-05-19T14:17:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/?p=1241"},"modified":"2025-08-07T02:39:16","modified_gmt":"2025-08-07T06:39:16","slug":"how-young-athletes-can-feel-confident-with-less-playing-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/how-young-athletes-can-feel-confident-with-less-playing-time\/","title":{"rendered":"How Young Athletes Can Feel Confident with Less Playing Time"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/how-young-athletes-can-feel-confident-with-less-playing-time.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3633\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/how-young-athletes-can-feel-confident-with-less-playing-time.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/how-young-athletes-can-feel-confident-with-less-playing-time-300x150.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"New_Coaches_in_Youth_Sports\"><\/span>New Coaches in Youth Sports<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 ez-toc-wrap-center counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/how-young-athletes-can-feel-confident-with-less-playing-time\/#New_Coaches_in_Youth_Sports\" >New Coaches in Youth Sports<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/how-young-athletes-can-feel-confident-with-less-playing-time\/#Related_Articles_on_Kids_Mental_Game\" >Related Articles on Kids&#8217; Mental Game:<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/how-young-athletes-can-feel-confident-with-less-playing-time\/#Improve_Your_Mental_Game_From_Anywhere_In_The_World\" >Improve Your Mental Game From Anywhere In The World<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<p>A dad recently wrote us with a heart-breaking story about how his 13-year-old soccer player was once \u201cbrilliant,\u201d but had his <strong>confidence busted<\/strong> by a new coach\u2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The parents are willing to move to another town just to find a team that would help boost their son\u2019s <strong>confidence and success.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But we have some tips to help this boy get back on track without moving to another town. Read on to learn what this family can do!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>\u201cInitially, when he began soccer aged 6, he was a brilliant little player. But when he turned 10, a new soccer coach (new team) somehow drained his <strong>confidence.<\/strong> From a top little player, my son was somehow reduced to a second rate player and eventually shoved onto the bench,\u201d<\/em> says the dad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Three years later, the boy has a reputation for being a poor player and has lost <strong>confidence.<\/strong> He\u2019s the smallest player on his new team, and he gets benched for 80% of a game&#8211;or more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>\u201cThe last thing we want him to do is give up the one passion he loves,\u201d<\/em> says the dad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When a child is losing <strong>confidence<\/strong> because he\u2019s getting benched, there\u2019s lots you as parents can do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>First of all, it\u2019s a good idea to talk to the coach. Make sure you do this when the coach is available\u2014not in the middle of a game, or after a game, or in front of the other players.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s best to ask the coach when he or she is available to talk. Then, when you do sit down to talk, ask the coach what skills your child needs to improve in order to get more playing time. You can also explain how your kid\u2019s <strong>confidence is suffering.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You want to ensure your child works on the skills identified by the coach. You might even consider getting some additional training, if possible. It should be clear to the coach that your child is working hard to improve his or her skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But that\u2019s not all. Spending more time on the bench should not dictate your child\u2019s <strong>confidence.<\/strong> You want to kids to believe in their physical skills no matter how much playing time they receive. Besides, you want them to feel <strong>confident<\/strong> when they do get the chance to perform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can also help your child uncover what beliefs and thoughts are <strong>undermining his or her confidence<\/strong>. Is he or she a perfectionist? Are <strong>expectations too high<\/strong>? Is his or her self-talk negative? Does your child assume he or she \u201cstinks\u201d because of less playing time?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We\u2019ve got many other confidence-boosting tips and strategies in our new program, <strong>\u201cThe Confident Sports Kid: A 7-Day Plan for Ultimate Self-Confidence.\u201d<\/strong> This program will put kids back on track with their confidence&#8211;and help kids stay on track to begin with!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can check it out here:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.peaksports.com\/the-confident-sports-kid-cd-program\/\">The Confident Sports Kid<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-dots\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"related-articles-on-hockey-mental-game\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Related_Articles_on_Kids_Mental_Game\"><\/span>Related Articles on Kids&#8217; Mental Game:<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/tips-for-playing-under-pressure\/\"><strong>Tips for Playing Under Pressure<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/how-playing-sports-can-help-kids-transition-to-reopening\/\"><strong>How Playing Sports Can Help Kids Transition to Reopening<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/when-sports-kids-dont-get-enough-playing-time\/\"><strong>When Sports Kids Don\u2019t Get Enough Playing Time<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"block-f49818fa-7c7a-4ee3-b5ee-66581aad2c71\">*Subscribe to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/sports-psychology-podcast-by-peaksports-com\/id152566009\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>The Sports Psychology Podcast<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0on iTunes<br>*Subscribe to <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/0ynyaalKxbnNmsoeL8gF5X?si=8224669de9b3435b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Sports Psychology Podcast<\/a> <\/strong>on Spotify<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity is-style-dots\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Improve_Your_Mental_Game_From_Anywhere_In_The_World\"><\/span><strong>Improve Your Mental Game From Anywhere In The World<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/mental-training-for-young-athletes.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6868\" style=\"width:138px;height:auto\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>We\u2019re certain that, as a parent,&nbsp;you want to help your child develop confidence and discipline in sports and life.&nbsp;And as a sports parent, you\u2019d love for your children to reach their potential in sports.&nbsp;But encouraging your child to <strong>strive for greatness without pressuring them<\/strong> can be a challenge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can get expert mental coaching with us from anywhere. Meet with us via Zoom, Skype, FaceTime or phone call. With today\u2019s video technology, we are able to connect with athletes and coaches all over the globe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>Call Us Today to Schedule Your Free 15-Minute Session.<\/strong><br><strong>Find Out How Your Athlete Can Benefit From One-on-One Mental Coaching!<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>New Coaches in Youth Sports A dad recently wrote us with a heart-breaking story about how his 13-year-old soccer player was once \u201cbrilliant,\u201d but had his confidence busted by a new coach\u2026. The parents are willing to move to another town just to find a team that would help boost &#8230; <a title=\"How Young Athletes Can Feel Confident with Less Playing Time\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/how-young-athletes-can-feel-confident-with-less-playing-time\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about How Young Athletes Can Feel Confident with Less Playing Time\">Read Sport Psychology Tip<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3631,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[434,39,251],"class_list":["post-1241","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-youth-sports-psychology-blog","tag-confident-sports-kid","tag-kids-sports-psychology","tag-youth-sports","resize-featured-image"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1241","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1241"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1241\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3631"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1241"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1241"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1241"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}