“My players play to avoid losing - tentative, afraid of the mistake.”
◆Praise the controllable - and be specific. Specific praise for the things they can control builds real belief; “good job” doesn’t.
◆Back their decisions out loud, then hand them the next one. Reinforce the thinking.
“What made you choose that pass?” → “Good - trust that and do it again.” You’re reinforcing their decision-making, not your own.
◆Make it safe to fail and winnable. Mistakes expected and learned from; set challenges they can actually win so confidence sits on real successes, not hype.
Example: When introducing a new concept, start with a walkthrough without pressure so the players can experience success with it. Say: “Mistakes will happen! That is OK, we are still learning _____.”
A player who tried a bold pass, lost it, and tries it again the very next chance - because their confidence rests on their decisions, not the outcome.