Control creates confidence

Last week, we spoke about the sad reality that so many young players are falling out of love with the game.

I mentioned a simple list that, if footballers learn early, can make a huge difference to how much they enjoy playing. This list has two categories:

Things I can control ... Things I can’t control

It sounds obvious, but it is incredible how many young footballers and parents waste time and energy focusing on things they have no power over.

There is a saying I have always loved:

“Where your focus goes, your energy flows.”

I have seen it repeatedly in my own career. The players who consistently work on the things they can influence always experience more success. Not just on the pitch, but off it too.

It was brilliant to see parents sending their own versions of this list after last week’s message. We even posted a visual on our Instagram page.

Here are a few examples from the list.

Things I Can Control (as a footballer)

• How I communicate with my teammates • My body language • My mindset • Reaction to losing the ball • Reaction to conceding a goal • What I say to myself • My first touch

Things I Can’t Control (as a footballer)

• The weather conditions • Other players’ attitude • The referee • The result • The opposition • What others say to me • The crowd

What Happens When You Focus on What You Can Control

When a player begins to consistently focus on what they can control, everything changes.

They become calmer. They make better decisions. They recover faster from mistakes. Their confidence no longer depends on who they are playing against or what the referee does.

Most importantly, they become the type of player coaches trust.

Because control creates consistency. Consistency creates confidence. And confidence creates enjoyment and trust.

The more a young player focuses on what they can control, the more they feel in charge of their own development and their own career. That feeling alone can transform their entire relationship with football.

Parents, what is one thing you can start doing this week to help your child focus more on what they can control?

James