We often tell young soccer players to “be confident.” Ask for the ball. Take players on. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes.

But confidence isn’t something we can simply ask a player to have. Confidence comes from feeling comfortable with the ball and trusting your own ability.

When a young player has a good first touch, can dribble, turn, pass, protect the ball and handle a 1v1, the game becomes easier. Instead of worrying about losing the ball, they can look up and make a decision. Should I pass? Should I dribble? Is there space to attack?

This is why technical development is so important at younger ages. We need to give players the tools before expecting them to play with confidence.

Sometimes in youth soccer, we rush the process. We want players to pass quickly, stay in position and make the “right” decision every time. But young players are still learning. The eight-year-old who dribbles too much today may be developing an ability that becomes one of their biggest strengths later.

Mistakes are part of that process. A player will dribble when they should pass. They will try to turn and lose the ball. They will make a difficult pass that doesn’t work. We should coach these moments, but we also need to give players the freedom to try again.

If players are constantly afraid of losing the ball, they will start choosing the safest option. Eventually, they may stop taking players on or asking for the ball in difficult situations. That doesn’t build confidence.

Technical training also needs both repetition and decision-making. Players need lots of touches, ball mastery, passing and receiving. But they also need 1v1, 2v2, 3v3 and small-sided games where they have to use those skills against real pressure.

The same applies to positions. Young players need structure, but positions should be starting points, not boxes. A defender should be able to carry the ball forward. A midfielder should feel comfortable taking someone on. A striker should be able to move, combine and create.

Most importantly, we shouldn’t be trying to create the best eight-year-old player. We should be building the foundation for the player they can become later.

Give them the ball. Give them repetition. Give them problems to solve. Let them make mistakes and learn from them.

Don’t rush confidence. Build the technical ability that allows confidence to grow naturally.