Building Champions Inside and Out: How Sport Shapes Confidence, Discipline, and Future Success

Part 1 – Confidence Through Achievement: How Small Wins Shape Big Futures

By Dexter Walters – Mentor, Semi-Professional Footballer, Personal Trainer

Why Confidence Matters More Than Ever for Young People in the UK

Confidence is more than just feeling good about yourself — it’s the foundation for almost every decision a young person makes, from trying a new activity to speaking up in class to applying for a first job. It’s the quiet conviction that says, “I can handle this.” Without it, even the most talented young person can shy away from opportunities, avoid challenges, and underestimate their own abilities.

But right now in the UK, we’re seeing an alarming confidence gap in young people. The Prince’s Trust Youth Index 2024 revealed that 41% of young people aged 16–25 believe they will fail more often than they succeed, with many stating that low self-esteem prevents them from even attempting new things. Social media pressures, academic competition, and post-pandemic disruption to school life have all intensified this issue. For many children, the fear of failure is greater than the desire to try — and that’s a cycle we have to break.

In my experience as a footballer and mentor, the surest way to rebuild that belief is through achievement — and not just the headline-grabbing kind. Real confidence grows from repeated, meaningful wins that a child earns through effort, persistence, and personal growth.

The Psychology Behind Confidence and Achievement

Psychologists call it self-efficacy — the belief in your own ability to succeed in a specific situation. This concept, first introduced by Dr. Albert Bandura, is more than just optimism; it’s built through evidence from your own life that you can set a goal, work towards it, and achieve it.

When a child learns a new skill — whether it’s perfecting a football pass, nailing a gymnastics routine, or improving a swimming time — they experience what’s called a mastery experience. Research consistently shows that these mastery moments are the single most powerful way to develop self-efficacy. Why? Because they provide concrete proof that effort pays off.

The important thing is that this growth doesn’t have to come from big, dramatic moments. In fact, smaller, frequent achievements are often more effective in shaping confidence because they happen regularly and reinforce the belief that improvement is part of who you are. This is why structured sport and physical activity are so transformative: they naturally create a rhythm of challenges and successes that a child can build upon.

The UK’s Sport and Confidence Connection

Sport England’s Active Lives Children and Young People Survey (2023) paints a clear picture: children who are physically active every day are almost twice as likely to report high levels of happiness and self-esteem compared to those who are inactive. Yet the same survey shows that only 47% of children meet the recommended 60 minutes of daily activity set by the UK’s Chief Medical Officer.

This gap is not just about physical fitness — it’s about lost opportunities for confidence building. Every missed training session, every skipped PE class, is a missed chance for a child to experience improvement, teamwork, and personal pride. This is particularly concerning in disadvantaged areas, where access to sports facilities and organised activities can be limited.

In my mentoring work, I’ve seen the difference firsthand. Children who regularly engage in sport develop a sense of earned self-belief. They don’t just hear “You can do it” from adults — they prove it to themselves through action.

Small Wins, Big Impact

We often think of success in terms of big wins — a cup final, a medal, a top grade — but for most young people, these moments are rare. If confidence relies solely on those peaks, it becomes fragile.

Small wins, however, can be achieved daily. Completing a challenging drill, staying focused for the full length of training, or improving form in a specific skill all count. These moments might seem minor, but they create a steady drip of positive reinforcement. Over time, they form a mental library of “I’ve done this before, I can do it again” moments.

A 2020 study in the Journal of Applied Sport Psychology found that athletes who focused on process-oriented goals (such as improving accuracy or technique) developed greater long-term confidence than those fixated solely on outcomes. This is why in my sessions, I celebrate effort and improvement as much as — if not more than — match results.

The Role of Parents: Reinforcing the Right Achievements

Parents often ask me, “How can I help my child be more confident?” My answer is always: notice their effort, not just their results.

Children quickly pick up on what adults value. If we only praise winning or being the best, we unintentionally send the message that their worth is tied to outcomes they can’t always control. By celebrating persistence, learning, and progress, we teach them that they are capable and resilient, regardless of the scoreboard.

This could mean:

• Saying, “I saw how hard you worked to improve your passing” instead of “Well done for scoring.”

• Asking, “What’s something you learned in training today?” rather than “Did you win?”

• Sharing stories of your own times when persistence paid off.

Practical Home Exercises for Confidence Through Achievement

Parents don’t need a football pitch or sports hall to help their child experience achievement. Here are some simple, UK-friendly activities that can be done at home or in local parks:

1. The 5-Day Skill Challenge

Pick a skill — like juggling a football, skipping rope, or holding a balance pose. Practise for just 5–10 minutes a day over five days, and track progress together.
Why it works: Quick improvements are visible, and children see proof that consistent effort pays off.

2. The “Personal Best” Game

For running, cycling, or even star jumps, record their best performance and encourage small weekly improvements.
Why it works: Focuses on self-competition, reducing unhealthy comparisons with others.

3. Teach the Teacher

Ask your child to teach you a new skill they’ve learned.
Why it works: Teaching reinforces mastery and shows them they have valuable knowledge to share.

4. The Effort Jar

Have a jar at home where you drop a token each time they show persistence, effort, or problem-solving. When full, celebrate with a family activity.
Why it works: Rewards the process, not just the end result.

Final Thoughts

Confidence built through achievement is one of the most portable skills a young person can have. It doesn’t fade when they leave the pitch; it travels with them into exams, job interviews, relationships, and leadership roles.

This is why Project Be You puts so much emphasis on small, regular wins. They may look simple in the moment, but their ripple effect lasts a lifetime.

In Part 2 – Discipline and Routine, I’ll explore how structure and consistency provide the backbone for this confidence, helping young people turn belief into lifelong habits for success.