In our last article, we explored Competence as a key pillar to our coaching approach, highlighting how skill development, purposeful challenge and meaningful practice lay the foundation for confident movement and lifelong engagement in sport and physical activity. In this edition, we turn our attention to an equally important element of Positive Youth Sport and Athletic Development: Confidence.
Seeing a young person grow in confidence is one of the great joys of our work. We are lucky to witness it every day, sometimes in bold, obvious ways and other times in quiet, personal breakthroughs. What may seem small to us, such as a question asked, a new sport tried, or a second attempt taken, can mean everything to a young person. And those moments stick with them. After returning to competitive sport post-COVID, one of the most noticeable shifts in our students was a drop in self-confidence. So, as an Artemis team, we’ve been intentionally working to rebuild it and looking for the little signs that tell us it’s growing:
- When students embrace mistakes as part of learning
- When positive self-talk replaces doubt
- When nerves are accepted as normal – even helpful – before a performance
- When students recognise that everyone matters in contributing to the team’s experience
Confidence is the deep internal belief that “I can.”
… I can participate … I can try something new … I can improve … I belong here …
This belief plays a powerful role in sport and exercise throughout our lifetime. It influences our effort, motivation and persistence. That’s why how our students experience sport and physical activity is our number one priority … to feel safe to take risks, be challenged and to grow. Because confidence is grown by doing, and amplified when:
- Coaches celebrate effort and a commitment to the process
- We welcome mistakes as vital to learning
- Friends and peers encourage and support each other
- Students feel valued for who they are and what they bring
- Adults say, “I love watching you play”
Creating spaces where our Grammarians feel they can stretch themselves, try again and keep growing, are all markers of psychological safety. And we see the impact every day:
- Year 8s trying rowing for the first time
- A student returning from injury with quiet determination
- A netballer stepping forward to lead the team warm up
- A young swimmer diving off the edge of the pool after many failed attempts!
These moments remind us of what we value as a community. When a student hears ‘well done’ or ‘keep going’ at just the right moment, it becomes a powerful inner voice: ‘I’ve done hard things before. I can do this too.’ And when young people believe in themselves, they keep showing up, pushing through, and lifting others along the way. That’s the confidence we aim to grow together.
“The most effective way to do it is to do it.” — Amelia Earhart