Inside the Head of a Young Footballer: Why Mindset Matters at St. Ita’s AFC.
Across our youth teams, the mindset is often discussed but rarely understood in a structured way — so this season, we set out to change that. We asked players from every age group to share how they think, feel, and respond during games, and the results revealed patterns that are as honest as they are important.
From confidence that swings with early mistakes, to focus that drifts under pressure, to the surprising number of players who have never set a clear goal, the survey paints a vivid picture of what’s happening inside the heads of young footballers. More importantly, it highlights where simple, practical mindset tools could make a real difference.
This article breaks down what we learned, why it matters, and how coaches and players can use these insights to build stronger, more resilient performances on and off the pitch.
Rather than trying to cover everything, three indicators stood out clearly across the age groups. These are not abstract psychological ideas — they are everyday moments that coaches and parents see on the sideline, often without realising what’s happening underneath.
1. What Happens After a Mistake Matters More Than the Mistake
One of the strongest patterns in the survey was how players respond immediately after making an error. Many said they get annoyed at themselves, go quiet, or feel frustrated.
In fact, one in three players admitted that their very first thought after a mistake is to blame themselves.
That difference matters. Most players want to move on—they just don’t know how. At the youth level, emotional regulation is still developing. When a mistake happens, the emotional part of the brain reacts quickly, often before the thinking part can catch up. Without a reset, frustration lingers and spills into the next action.
The issue isn’t effort or attitude. It’s a lack of simple, repeatable tools. Young players don’t need long explanations mid-game. They need something quick and physical—a breath, a cue word, a small action that signals “reset and go again.” When this becomes normalised, mistakes lose their grip.
2. Confidence Is Fragile Because It’s Often External
Another consistent theme was how situational confidence is at the youth level. Many players said their confidence depends on early touches, coach feedback, or teammate reactions.
While many are naturally resilient, nearly half of our players feel they are only "mentally tough" some of the time.
While many are naturally resilient, nearly half of our players feel they are only "mentally tough" some of the time.
This is completely normal. Young players are still learning how to evaluate themselves internally, so they rely heavily on external signals. The problem arises when confidence only exists if conditions are perfect. When confidence is externally anchored, performance becomes inconsistent.
What helps is slowly building internal anchors—small routines players can rely on regardless of what’s happening around them. Controlled breathing, simple self-talk, or focusing on one controllable action can stabilise confidence and bring the player back to the present moment. These aren’t dramatic techniques; they’re quiet habits that build trust in oneself.
3. Focus Drifts Easily Without Clear Direction
Focus was another area highlighted by the survey. Players spoke about worrying over mistakes, thinking about parents or coaches watching, or comparing themselves to others.
In many cases, this lack of focus is often tied to a lack of direction; four out of ten players reported that they haven't yet set a clear personal goal for the season.
In many cases, this lack of focus is often tied to a lack of direction; four out of ten players reported that they haven't yet set a clear personal goal for the season.
Without a specific goal to aim for, mistakes seem larger, and confidence becomes more emotional than intentional. Even one simple, controllable goal — like checking my shoulder before receiving — gives players something solid to return to. It narrows attention, reduces overthinking, and helps them reconnect with what they can control.
What This Can Look Like in Practice
One way this can be explored with youth teams is by making mindset visible and slowing things down when patterns start to appear. Many coaches will recognise the scenario: results dip, body language changes, communication fades, and confidence follows.
Rather than jumping straight to fixing tactics or effort, it can help to step back and look at what’s driving the behaviour underneath.
A simple approach is to map out the chain between:
Thoughts
Feelings
Behaviours
Performance.
- The Negative Chain: Thoughts like “they’re bigger than me” or “we always lose to this team” lead to feelings of nervousness or hesitation. Those feelings then show up as disengagement, poor body language, or loss of focus — and performance drops as a result.
- The Positive Chain: Conversely, we can build a stronger link by feeding the chain better thoughts. Thinking “I’m faster than their fullback” or “I’ve practiced this finish 100 times” creates a feeling of assertiveness and energy. This leads to "proactive" behaviours—demanding the ball, sprinting to close gaps, and talking to teammates—which naturally drives performance up.
- From there, a useful question to explore is where attention is going. Are players focused on what they can control, or on things that sit completely outside their control? In many cases, it’s the latter. Size, strength, opposition reputation — all uncontrollable — yet all powerful enough to push players into a threat state where reactions take over.
This opens the door to reset strategies.
Rather than trying to stop mistakes, the aim becomes helping players recover from them. Simple, shared tools work best. A deep breath paired with a reset word can be enough to interrupt the emotional response. Flipping body language — getting upright, communicating, and engaging physically — helps players feel more present and assertive. Narrowing focus to a clear next action gives attention somewhere useful to land.
What often resonates most with players is the simplicity. Nothing dramatic. Just something they can return to again and again.
The challenge, as with any skill, is repetition. Mental habits don’t stick after one conversation. Like physical training, short and frequent practice builds familiarity and trust. When these tools are revisited regularly in training and games, they start to feel natural rather than forced.
Final Thoughts
A previous article here- St Ita’s AFC (Dublin) | Mental Fitness for the Field: highlighted why mindset matters; this follow-up shows where it breaks down and how we can support it better. The survey confirms that our youth players care deeply — they just need structure for managing pressure.
When we coach the inner game with the same care as the outer one, we don’t just develop better footballers. We help young people build confidence, resilience, and self-belief that lasts well beyond the pitch.
*What began as a youth-focused snapshot is now an ongoing piece of work, with the survey being extended to our senior men’s and women’s sections to help shape a shared approach to mindset across the club.
