Keeping childs confidence up

[cuffdam]

Hi,
I would really appreciate any tips or advice regarding keeping a 7 year old's confidence up. He has recently joined our local under 8's football team and is on the reserve list as they are over subscribed. He trains with the team each week, but doesn't play in matches. His confidence gets knocked if the other boys remark he won't get in the team, he'll have to wait until next season, but will be guaranteed a place if he keeps up the training. Both coaches are very good and look very approachable if I needed to have a chat with them.

Many thanks from an appreciative dad.

Hi!

You probably do this already, but it might help to play football with him and comment on how many positive changes he's made to his play. Also, maybe get him part of a few other clubs that he might enjoy like martial arts or street dance.

My daughters are 7 and recently moved home - they're adopted. They were boisterous but lacking in confidence when they first came home but since using similar techniques, it has boosted their confidence. They played football in a mainly boys' team and even though they were better than the boys, were starting to get teased. They stayed at the football club, but we joined a few other clubs like gymnastics and Beavers and we constantly praise every new thing they have learnt. My husband has also trained as a football coach and now works with their team too, which has also helped as they feel protected even if he won't get involved, as they should be capable of speaking for themselves. All of this has made a huge difference to how they feel about themselves and I also think that because they're so busy and subsequently so tired at bedtime, they don't have time to focus on the negatives at one club, where they both are now the stars.

Hope this helps!

Thanks very much for your advice and will start using it from now on. He does do karate twice a week & will use that as you mentioned as a base to work from when we need an example of how he's got better with something he's stuck at.

Many thanks again.