Confidence will overcome errors

While watching a recent U20s international, a co-commentator said: "At half-time, the coach will be telling them to reduce their handling errors".

I don’t think this is a helpful intervention for any coach to make, at any stage of the game – but it does happen. 

Given the co-commentator was an international player, I expect they’d heard it more than once themselves.

What do we think a player will do differently in the second half? My guess is they might become more cautious and hold onto the ball. 

That would certainly reduce errors because no passes mean no mistakes. But is that really progress?

Instead of focusing on the errors, it’s more useful to ask why they are happening. 

If they are purely skill-based mistakes, they won’t be fixed in a couple of minutes. However, confidence is often the real issue – and that is something you can influence immediately.

Firstly, lift the players up, don’t bring them down. Instead of saying "Let’s cut out the handling errors", reinforce what they’re capable of: "Lots of nearlys in that half. We nailed some of these in training, so they will come."

Next, look at your tactical approach. Are the players using the right plays for this particular game? Are they trying to force skills that don’t suit this defence? 

For example, you might say, "Let’s switch to Plan B – shorter passes and a punch-through approach."

Finally, watch how players react to their mistakes. Some will be frustrated and lash out, while others might shrink into themselves. 

This is where you step in. Remind them of when things have worked before. Build on those moments, and they’ll be more likely to make the right decisions under pressure.

Handling errors aren’t just about technique – they’re often about mindset. Cutting them out starts with thinking, and acting, positively.