Post by From Mike Candrea on Oct 21, 2010 22:34:11 GMT -5
Road to Confidence
I receive this question on a regular basis – “How do you develop confidence in your players?” As we all know, the answer to this question is not an easy answer when dealing with 18 different mind sets, personalities, and experiences. I tend to draw back to my experiences in coaching both men and women and find it important to first answer this question – “What comes first – confidence or performance?” Can you have confidence without performance?
Over the years, I have come to the conclusion that for a player to be confident, they must first improve performance. There is no magical dust that we as coaches can sprinkle over our players or exercises that will develop the confidence needed to perform this great but difficult game we play. Developing confident players is a process that must begin with creating a passion for the game. When we have a strong interest and enjoyment for something, we tend to be totally engaged. I always tell people that I have never worked a day in my life! I have been able to do something that I truly love and enjoy. More importantly, I have found that passion on the athletic field begins with a strong desire and work ethic to do things the right way and create a “passion for the process”.
We can all agree that softball is a game of monotonous repetition of fundamental skills. A significant step in building confidence is our ability to develop the skill sets that are necessary to play the game. The question I like to ask my players is “why do you do what you do?” I major part of skill development is your ability and knowledge to understand the whys! Without becoming a student of the game and gaining a deep understanding of how the game is played, it becomes impossible to connect the dots which allow good players to make the necessary adjustments required to perform at a high level. A productive process will allow your players an opportunity to master the skills and create an appreciation of playing the game the right way and improve performance.
The final stage in developing confidence in players is our ability as coaches and parents to teach our kids to embrace pressure. We all know that pressure is real whether it is on the athletic field or in our own personal life. Our ability to embrace the opportunity to understand pressure and learn to deal with it can have a huge effect on our levels of confidence. One of the great lessons I have learned in coaching and watching players develop from the college to the elite level is my understanding of game maturity. Game maturity is something that comes from experience, knowledge, and mastery of the physical, mental and emotional skills necessary to compete at the highest levels. The process should provide opportunity for quality skill development, game experience, and the mental skills that can provide emotional stability. These skills provide confidence that allow us to look at pressure as an opportunity to succeed while keeping a healthy perspective on the bigger game of life!
Until next month,
Coach Candrea
I receive this question on a regular basis – “How do you develop confidence in your players?” As we all know, the answer to this question is not an easy answer when dealing with 18 different mind sets, personalities, and experiences. I tend to draw back to my experiences in coaching both men and women and find it important to first answer this question – “What comes first – confidence or performance?” Can you have confidence without performance?
Over the years, I have come to the conclusion that for a player to be confident, they must first improve performance. There is no magical dust that we as coaches can sprinkle over our players or exercises that will develop the confidence needed to perform this great but difficult game we play. Developing confident players is a process that must begin with creating a passion for the game. When we have a strong interest and enjoyment for something, we tend to be totally engaged. I always tell people that I have never worked a day in my life! I have been able to do something that I truly love and enjoy. More importantly, I have found that passion on the athletic field begins with a strong desire and work ethic to do things the right way and create a “passion for the process”.
We can all agree that softball is a game of monotonous repetition of fundamental skills. A significant step in building confidence is our ability to develop the skill sets that are necessary to play the game. The question I like to ask my players is “why do you do what you do?” I major part of skill development is your ability and knowledge to understand the whys! Without becoming a student of the game and gaining a deep understanding of how the game is played, it becomes impossible to connect the dots which allow good players to make the necessary adjustments required to perform at a high level. A productive process will allow your players an opportunity to master the skills and create an appreciation of playing the game the right way and improve performance.
The final stage in developing confidence in players is our ability as coaches and parents to teach our kids to embrace pressure. We all know that pressure is real whether it is on the athletic field or in our own personal life. Our ability to embrace the opportunity to understand pressure and learn to deal with it can have a huge effect on our levels of confidence. One of the great lessons I have learned in coaching and watching players develop from the college to the elite level is my understanding of game maturity. Game maturity is something that comes from experience, knowledge, and mastery of the physical, mental and emotional skills necessary to compete at the highest levels. The process should provide opportunity for quality skill development, game experience, and the mental skills that can provide emotional stability. These skills provide confidence that allow us to look at pressure as an opportunity to succeed while keeping a healthy perspective on the bigger game of life!
Until next month,
Coach Candrea