As coaches you have a unique perspective on how your athletes talk to themselves. You also know your athletes well enough to help them develop confident self-talk. You should suggest a few ideas, such as, “You work hard. You’re really fit. You’ve got a lot of talent. You’re a great communicator on the field.”
Be careful about saying things that your players can turn into negative self-talk. Rather than saying, “You always freeze up when a big player approaches,” you might say, “When you’re playing against someone who is bigger than you, remind yourself that you’re smart and quick.”
Check out the Mental Game Coaching Professional course for more information on coaching the mental game.