{"id":35,"date":"2008-01-16T03:44:00","date_gmt":"2008-01-16T03:44:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/?p=35"},"modified":"2025-08-08T06:06:08","modified_gmt":"2025-08-08T10:06:08","slug":"using-practice-time-boost-young-athletes-confidence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/using-practice-time-boost-young-athletes-confidence\/","title":{"rendered":"Using Practice Time to Boost Young Athletes’ Confidence"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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By Lisa Cohn and Dr. Patrick Cohn<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Just how can practices improve young athletes’ confidence<\/a>? And what does this mean for you as a sports parent?<\/p>\n

Longtime coach Marty Schupak, founder of Youth Sports Club, has lots to say about how efficient, engaging practices can boost kids’ confidence in sports.<\/p>\n

Schupak’s journey into coaching began when his son, a baseball player, was asked by his coach to endure 2.5 hours’ of boring batting practices. Schupak decided to try his hand at coaching-and invented a number of creative ways to keep kids engaged, successful, and feeling good about themselves.<\/p>\n

For example, he noticed that baseball players who are 6 years old are far ahead of the 5-year-olds who have a year’s experience under their belts. “It’s hard for 5-year-olds to feel successful,” he says.<\/p>\n

Schupak came up with an idea: How about the 5-year-olds begin with batting a kickball off a batting tee? “This way, the kids experience more success and gain confidence. After hitting a kickball, the kids can move to a softball,” he says.<\/p>\n

He also started designing practices that mixed skills-building drills with “fun” drills. During a “fun” drill, 11- or 12-year-olds might hit a kickball off a batting tee, then run the bases.<\/p>\n

If kids are having fun and experiencing success, they’re more likely to feel confident, gain satisfaction, and improve their performance.<\/p>\n

Another example: If coaches can ensure the less experienced or struggling players interact in positive ways with the stronger players during practice (and games), they’ll likely feel more confident.<\/p>\n

Following are additional ways parents and coaches can help build kids’ confidence during practice time:<\/p>\n