One of the persistent problems I face as a coach is player confidence – or, more specifically, a lack of it.

Perhaps this is all part and parcel of being a high-school rugby coach, with a regular influx of new players.

In fact, the very nature of the young people we coach means that many are yet to develop the mental resilience that comes with age and experience.

This isn’t a problem specific to youth rugby, though. How many times do we hear professional coaches and commentators talk about players either lacking, or being low on, confidence?

This issue reaches across all domains. As a teacher, I experience it regularly in the classroom. 

Fortunately, there is a growing confidence within the education community about how to build confidence in the classroom effectively. 

Well-respected former headteacher, author and professional learning expert Tom Sherrington has written an excellent blog about the five ways teachers can build confidence in the classroom.

And, as coaches, we can also apply these approaches in our training sessions to boost our players.

1. Consolidation