Confidence, Self-Belief & Self-Doubt Issues

Explore resources to help children and young adults build lasting sporting confidence and self-belief. Many talented young athletes struggle because they are overly self-critical, engage in negative self-talk, or fail to recognise their abilities. Parents often describe them as “their own worst critic,” “too hard on themselves,” or “they don’t believe in their ability.” Our guides and podcasts show how to replace self-doubt with self-compassion, a can-do attitude, resilience and self-confidence in sport and life.

Risk Orientation in Hockey: Helping Young Players Balance Creativity and Structure

by David Charlton

Risk Orientation in Hockey Helping Young Players Balance Creativity and Structure When coaches talk about mental toughness in sport, the conversation often centres around confidence, resilience, or commitment. But another important psychological factor often sits quietly beneath the surface of many sporting environments. RISK ORIENTATION For hockey coaches working with young players, understanding risk orientation …

Learning Orientation in Youth Sport: A Guide for Coaches Working with Teenage Athletes

by David Charlton

Learning Orientation in Youth Sport A Guide for Coaches Working with Teenage Athletes Coaching teenage athletes brings a unique set of opportunities and challenges. At this stage of development, typically around 17 years and older, many young athletes are navigating an important transition. They are becoming more independent, more self-aware, and more serious about their …

Conversations With Kids: Encouraging Young Athletes to Try New Things

by David Charlton

young adult athlete thinking about creativity and taking risks while training and having fun

Conversations with Kids: Trying New Things in Sport For parents and guardians where we give you prompts so that you can have more meaningful conversations with your children to help them build key characteristics such as mental toughness, resilience, confidence, creativity, focus and so on. A Questions for Your Kids Do you enjoy trying new …

Interpersonal Confidence in Netball: How Coaches Help Young Players Speak Up

by David Charlton

Interpersonal Confidence in Netball How Coaches Can Help Young Players Speak Up and Thrive Confidence in sport is usually associated with performance. As coaches, we often focus on helping players believe in their ability to shoot, defend, pass, or perform under pressure. But there is another type of confidence that quietly shapes many sporting environments. …

Supporting Highly-Driven Athletes: A Coach’s Guide

by David Charlton

Supporting Highly-Driven Young Adult Athletes A Guide For Sport Coaches Highly driven athletes aged 17 and above are often seen as the “easy” ones to coach. They’re committed, organised, and willing to do whatever it takes to improve. But at this stage of their development, the pressures are higher. Selection, progression, scholarships, contracts, or career …

Helping Young Athletes When Goals Feel Like Pressure

by David Charlton

young adult thinking about goal setting.

Conversations with Kids: When Goals Feel Like Pressure For parents and guardians where we give you prompts so that you can have more meaningful conversations with your children to help them build key characteristics such as mental toughness, resilience, confidence, creativity, focus and so on. A Questions for Your Kids When someone talks about your …

Why Some Kids Believe They Can and Others Don’t

by David Charlton

young girl playing sport with a can do attitude

Conversations with Kids: Why Some Kids Believe They Can and Others Don’t For parents and guardians where we give you prompts so that you can have more meaningful conversations with your children to help them build key characteristics such as mental toughness, resilience, confidence, creativity, focus and so on. A Questions for Your Kids When …

Why Mentally Tough Kids Make Better Decisions Under Pressure

by David Charlton

13 year olds. Boys and girls playing sports

Why 12–16 Is A Very Important Age for Mental Toughness Lessons From Doug Strycharczyk If you coach children aged 12–16, you’ll know something important: their skills are improving fast, but their minds can be over the place. One week they look confident, brave and creative. The next week they freeze, hide or panic under pressure. …

Helping Young Athletes Handle Exam Pressure Without Burning Out

by David Charlton

child looking confused revising for exams

Conversations with Kids: When School and Sport Collide For parents and guardians where we give you prompts so that you can have more meaningful conversations with your children to help them build key characteristics such as mental toughness, resilience, confidence, creativity, focus and so on. A Questions for Your Kids “When schoolwork, exams, and sport …

Mental Toughness in Youth Sport: Words of Wisdom Every Sport Coach Needs to Hear

by David Charlton

Mental Toughness in Youth Sport: Words of Wisdom Every Sport Coach Needs to Hear Coaching teenagers and young athletes has never been more complex. This is the stage where talent begins to separate, expectations increase, selection pressure intensifies, and confidence can fluctuate wildly from week to week. Many young athletes look physically capable but are …