The Parents normally apply pressure because they want better performance.
But here's the interesting part:
Too much pressure can actually create the opposite result.
In my Maximum Confidence guide, I discuss research from cognitive scientist Sian Beilock around what happens when people perform under pressure.
Her work shows that in high-pressure situations, people can start consciously thinking about movements and skills that would normally happen automatically.
In simple terms:
They start overthinking.
And performance can suffer.
You see this in youth football all the time
Your child has made that pass hundreds of times.
Then suddenly it's an important match.
They're worried about making a mistake.
They're thinking about the coach.
They're thinking about you watching.
They're thinking about the result.
And something that normally happens naturally becomes difficult.
Parents sometimes respond by adding more instructions.
“Make sure you do this.”
“Don't do that.”
“Remember what we talked about.”
Now we've potentially given the player's brain even more information to process.
Sometimes players don't need more information.
They need less interference.
That's why one of the biggest things I work on with young footballers is learning how to focus on the present moment and the things they can actually control.
Because removing pressure doesn't mean lowering standards.
Sometimes removing unnecessary pressure is exactly what allows a player to show their real level.
That's a big part of what we train inside The Confidence Academy.