Players are More Fragile Than Ever—The 1 Thing Every Coach Must Develop Within Their Players and 4 Ways to Make it Happen

This is the most challenging time in our history to become exceptional at anything.

How can this be?

Today's players are part of the iPad generation, where everything is merely a click away. They possess unparalleled access to knowledge, infrastructure, and experts. They also have an array of options on how to spend their time, unlike any previous generation. In numerous aspects, our present culture, its environments, and subsequent leadership are configured to offer more resources, pathways, and opportunities than ever before, while deliberately minimizing the hurdles obstructing the path to those very goals.

However, in order for anyone to leverage this moment to their advantage, they must possess the willingness and endurance to play the long game.

Present-day individuals are more fragile and less inclined to persist in anything demanding sustained effort over an extended period.?

It's not that they lack goals or motivation…

They lack self-belief.

This deficiency could stem from various reasons and manifests differently in each player. But fundamentally, there exists a limiting belief within every player that declares, "I'm not good enough." Regrettably, many non-developmental environments reinforce this underlying false belief, granting it more power. This is why numerous youngsters abandon sports at younger ages and why many exceptionally talented prospects fade away.

As a coach, director, or leader within the soccer culture, the most impactful action you can take is to nurture self-belief within your players. They don't necessarily require a clearer playing vision, improved infrastructure, or more advanced training sessions. They need leaders capable of cultivating self-belief, which we can define as an inner confidence that recognizes their worth, views future challenges as opportunities for growth, and possesses the endurance to continuously iterate toward their potential.

Players are more fragile than ever, yet this doesn't indicate they cannot fulfill their potential. Instead, it underscores the importance of having more Developers to offer support throughout their journey.

Here are 4 ways every Developer can foster self-belief in their players.

1. Creating a Culture Vision That Empowers Players

The values you instill offer the empowerment necessary for self-belief.

By establishing a culture that equips players with tools and life skills to confront challenges, they become better prepared for life, both on and off the field. While there are numerous talented players, the select few who truly "make it" are those with a resilient mentality enabling them not only to handle adversity but also to grow from it. Unfortunately, the current culture surrounding today's players implicitly teaches them to evade hardship or adversity.?

Hence, as coaches, developing self-belief is no longer something we can ignore; it must be the central focus of our curriculums.

2. Making Development the Priority to Lessen Expectations

Today's players grapple with the weight of expectations more than any previous generation.

Our entire culture revolves around outcomes and self-preservation. Why would a player challenge an opponent for the ball if there's a chance of being nutmegged, only to have it end up on Instagram? Coaches must shift the focus from pursuing (or protecting) outcomes to a developmental vision that prioritizes the process.?

By doing so, it creates more useful expectations like showing up, being vulnerable, and doing your best, which are all process-based.

3. Celebrating Small Wins and Smaller Circles

Players must be taught to recognize small wins, even those that might be harder to discern, and be motivated by the new challenges ahead (smaller circles).

Small wins exist everywhere and serve as fuel to build self-belief. Even in the most challenging circumstances, it's a coach's responsibility to find something that the team and individuals can celebrate and build upon. This approach allows them to understand the next smaller circle as a bridge to more small wins.?

Celebrating small wins and embracing smaller circles is a long-term strategy for building self-belief.

4. Demonstrating Care and Belief

"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." - Maya Angelou

Today's players need coaches more than ever to believe in their potential, enabling the players to believe in themselves. Culture Reps are ever present, presenting continuous opportunities to meet your players' vulnerability with empowerment. Our primary responsibility is to guide and support.

It holds immense power for a player when their coach demonstrates full investment in their development.

In Conclusion

Throughout human history, every player has needed self-belief to pursue their potential.

However, this generation requires that you grant them permission. The next revolution in coaching will be less about the sport itself, and more about creating environments and relationships that nurture self-belief. Development is an ongoing game where outcomes accumulate over time only if we consistently show up and give our best to each iteration.

The future of coaching will not be determined solely by the results you achieve, but by your ability to develop players who believe in and experience their potential.

By the way, I have a newsletter entitled “Nate Baker’s Newsletter”. Every Friday, I send an email with exclusive content that helps coaches navigate the problems of our soccer culture, while providing valuable frameworks and solutions that can transform your environment and organization.