Help build your child's self-confidence for pro academy football

BELIEF: It's important for young players to have confidence in themselves and their ability

Pro footballers need confidence. It helps to deal with nerves, visualise winning and not bottle under too much pressure. Developing confidence in everyday life can help to build confidence in football too.

As a parent, you can ensure your child builds this quality from an early age.

Use our guide to tell you how.

Why children can lack confidence

Lack of confidence often comes from a fear of failing or disappointing others. This may have started at a young age, as a response to over criticism, overprotection or lack of encouragement.

Too much pressure on children to do well in pro academy football can hinder success. Expectations that are way out of reach can be demotivating. No child wants to feel like a constant failure.

A piece of the puzzle

Confidence is a core part of 'mental toughness' in a footballer. It helps with performance and can show a strong mentality in a player. But it only makes up a piece of the puzzle.

You have to have confidence in your own ability to say 'I can do this'.

Reading player- Tyler Blackett to football4football

Other characteristics are also important. Children need to be resilient, be able to deal with pressure, or cope with failure. In fact, these all link together, and the development of one can aid the development of another. All you need is the right approach.

You've got this

It takes time, for sure. But giving the appropriate support can help to build a child's self-confidence.

This should help a child on the pitch, as well as off it, and ultimately encourage them to succeed and enjoy the process.