Remove the fear from competition. Players play scared when they believe they are being judged by the scoreboard and by their mistakes — so they play to not make mistakes: passively, nervously, carefully. Bruce Brown's teaching is blunt: being afraid of failing nearly always equates to failing more, and no athlete performs well or improves while passive. So change what your team believes gets judged. Put the emphasis on effort, learning, and improvement instead of comparative performance. Watch your own face — frustration or anger from the bench will not help a low-confidence kid play better. And distinguish fearless from careless: you still demand urgency, focus, and competing to win, just without punishing the risk-taking that competing requires.
Why are my players playing tight and tentative?
Usually fear of failure. Bruce Brown describes it: playing scared is playing passively, nervously, carefully, to avoid mistakes — and being afraid of failing nearly always equates to failing more. Look at what your athletes have learned they are judged on: when the emphasis is comparative performance rather than effort and improvement, tentative play follows.
How do I coach a player who is afraid of making mistakes?
Be a confidence builder. Bruce Brown names the traits: encourage — literally "give courage" — with honest praise, never confusing how the athlete performs with who the athlete is; model quiet confidence with your own face and body language; and remove fear from competition so the athlete can play fearlessly, not carelessly.
Does yelling at players make them play scared?
Yes. In Bruce Brown's interviews, athletes said quick-tempered coaches were hard to trust: you never know which mistake will set them off, so you end up playing scared and not free. Others simply tune the coach out. A determined, poised face gives players positive energy; frustration and anger will not.
How do I build real confidence in my team?
Confidence cannot be wished for; it comes from demonstrated skill and previous success. Earn it in practice: focused, specific, game-speed rehearsal of the skills and decisions competition demands. Then teach players to compete against their own potential, not the opponent — that gives the same positive focus every game: best effort.
The answer above is the what — Bruce Brown's full Playing With Confidence (To Coaches) teaches the how, and it's in the digital library with a 7-day free trial of membership — $180/year.
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