Confidence and opportunity are two of the most important things that youth football coaches can give players.

All children have different levels of confidence. For some, things come easy, and their personalities exude confidence in all that they do.

Others struggle believing in themselves enough to give their best effort. This, as much as blocking, tackling and footwork, is something we as youth coaches can instill and improve.

Through USA Football’s Heads Up Tackling, Heads Up Blocking and Levels of Contact, we break down the phases of the game to help kids become comfortable with technique before they encounter a live situation. In these drills, coaches teach young players through a step-by-step approach.

As they progress through each step, there is a predetermined winner. This helps each child develop confidence in doing things the correct way and being able to finish the play in the manner it is designed to.

Throughout this process, we show great energy and provide positive feedback to help our players know how exciting every little detail in football is. As they work toward mastering these steps, they grow in confidence and start to transfer these skills into game situations.             

Opportunity is another foundation for success

There will always be a rock star or two on every team, players for whom the game comes easy and they shine every week. For the rest, though, there is little separation in their talent levels.

And for many, it comes down to the opportunity to succeed.

Coaches, by nature, are competitive, and success can be measured in different ways. But it is important to try to build for tomorrow and not just for today. This is done by making sure all of the players get opportunities to play in important spots and during crucial times.

The best players at the youth level may not always be the best players as they get older. Bodies change. Some kids start growing late. Others stop growing early. You never know.

The fourth grade team that I coach rotates two quarterbacks every series. This past season, one of our QBs he fumbled the snap three times in five plays, losing the last one.

As the young quarterback ran off the field, I hear: “Get him out of there!”

My response: “No, this is fourth grade football. He will be fine.”

We want our players to know that we trust them so that when they are older and the games matter, they are accustomed to playing in some big moments. Support goes just as far in building confidence as in practice reps.

Later in that same game, we were down, 7-6, when the QB led our team down the field and threw the game-winning touchdown pass.

The confidence that youngster gained by being given the opportunity late in a game that he struggled in earlier was invaluable. He knew we had faith in him, and he went out and performed in a way that made us all proud.

Not every kid is going to have the same success and instant feedback, but without the opportunity, you may never know what some of them can do.

Let us all build confidence and give opportunities to keep making this the greatest game on earth.

Terry Donovan has been an Assistant Master Trainer for USA Football and will be a Master Trainer for the upcoming year. He is the offensive line coach for Kasson-Mantorville High School in Kasson MN. He is also a Youth coach and Director of Youth Development in the Kasson-Mantorville Youth Football Association.