Coach’s Corner – Building Confidence in Juniors

“It’s not about winning the rally, it’s about winning the child’s belief in themselves.”

Squash is a fast game. A blur of ball, racket, and lung-busting sprints. But when you’re coaching juniors, the most powerful shots aren’t always the ones landing on the nick or flying past an opponent. The real game-changer? Confidence. And just like a perfectly timed crosscourt drop, confidence can transform a nervous beginner into a fearless competitor, a hesitant learner into a trailblazer on court.

At OLIVER, we’ve worked with hundreds of juniors across clubs and universities, from the first tentative swings to Eryri League champions. And through it all, we’ve noticed one thing: confident players don’t just play better—they play happier. They take risks, try new shots, and thrive under pressure. So, how do we, as coaches, build that kind of confidence? Let’s dive in.

1. Understanding the Confidence Curve

Before you can coach confidence, you need to understand it. Think of a junior’s confidence like a rubber band: stretch it too far too fast, and it snaps; stretch it gently, progressively, and it becomes resilient, elastic, ready to bounce back from every error.

Confidence in squash isn’t linear. It spikes after a successful serve, dips after a lost point, wavers with a tricky opponent, and rebounds when they master a new skill. Coaches need to read these subtle shifts in mindset, because confidence isn’t just taught—it’s noticed, nurtured, and reinforced.

2. Mindset Strategies: Plant the Seeds

A confident junior isn’t born—they’re built. Here are practical mindset strategies that have worked across our OLIVER programs:

a) Normalize Mistakes

Every junior has a first squash lesson where the ball hits the tin, the wall, or the wrong corner. Celebrate it. Make it clear: mistakes are part of learning, part of growth. A simple line like, “Great attempt! Now let’s see if we can tweak it slightly”, shows them that errors are stepping stones, not failures.

b) Focus on Effort, Not Just Outcomes

Instead of saying, “Well done, you won that rally”, say, “I noticed how quickly you reacted to that shot!” or “You kept your feet moving and eyes on the ball—fantastic focus!”. By praising effort and technique, juniors internalize control over their actions, not just outcomes, which is crucial for lasting confidence.

c) Visualization and Mental Rehearsal

Encourage players to see themselves succeeding. Even a 30-second pre-point visualization can help. Have them picture:

• Hitting the perfect nick
• Recovering quickly after a long rally
• Smiling after a tough match point

Mental rehearsal isn’t fluff—it’s scientifically proven to strengthen neural pathways and boost confidence in real performance.

d) Goal Setting for Confidence

Set small, achievable goals that build cumulatively:

• Week 1: Keep the ball in play for 10 shots
• Week 2: Execute a crosscourt boast successfully
• Week 3: Attempt a drop shot in match play

As juniors hit these mini-goals, their belief in their own abilities compounds, creating a foundation for bigger victories.

3. Communication and Feedback: The Coaching Superpower

How you communicate with juniors directly affects their confidence. Words aren’t just words—they’re fuel for their mindset engine.

a) Be Specific, Not Vague

Instead of “Good job”, say: “Your racket preparation was excellent; that helped you reach the T quickly.” Specific feedback connects the action to the result, giving juniors clear, actionable insight into what made them successful.

b) Use Positive Framing

Even when correcting errors, frame feedback positively. Replace “Don’t hit it too hard” with “Try to control your swing to land it softly in the nick”. Positive framing keeps motivation high and prevents confidence from eroding under criticism.

c) Encourage Self-Assessment

Ask juniors:

• “Which shot felt best today?”
• “What could you do differently next rally?”

Self-assessment teaches ownership of improvement, which boosts confidence because they see themselves as active agents in their growth, not just passive recipients of instruction.

d) The Power of Storytelling

Kids remember stories more than instructions. Share anecdotes:

• How a top player missed 10 nicks in a row but came back to win
• Your own first awkward lesson and how you grew from it

Stories show juniors that setbacks are normal and confidence is built by persistence, not perfection.

4. Creating a Safe and Inclusive Environment

A confident junior thrives in a space where they feel valued, included, and safe to try new things.

• Inclusive coaching: Delivering sessions in both English and another language like Welsh as Ynys Mon Squash does, or sign language, https://www.englandsquash.com/get-involved/play/ways-to-play/deaf-squash. Or community driven groups such as the great work Malikah, pictured below, is doing, https://www.englandsquash.com/news/the-activator-inspiring-deaf-and-muslim-communities-through-squash ensures no junior feels left out or intimidated.
• Inclusive drills: Pair juniors of different skill levels together for cooperative drills. Success isn’t just beating an opponent—it’s learning together.
• Celebrating uniqueness: Recognize each junior’s strengths—speed, creativity, strategic thinking—rather than comparing them.

This approach reduces fear of failure, fosters risk-taking, and ultimately builds resilient confidence.

5. Fun, Playful Challenges to Reinforce Confidence

Confidence grows fastest when learning is enjoyable. Incorporate games that reward:

• Quick decision-making
• Creativity on court
• Positive sportsmanship

Examples:

• “Shadow Nick Challenge”: Pretend the ball is invisible—react and strike precisely
• “Rally Roulette”: Each rally, juniors pick a random shot they must try, no matter what
• “Power Play Points”: Give bonus points for effortful plays, not just winners

Fun challenges reduce pressure, reward boldness, and remind juniors that confidence isn’t just about results—it’s about approach and attitude.

6. The Role of the Coach: Mentor, Cheerleader, Guide

Building confidence isn’t about being overbearing or forcing perfection. It’s about being:

• Observant: noticing subtle wins and growth
• Supportive: offering encouragement that feels genuine
• Challenging: pushing juniors just enough to stretch their abilities without snapping their spirit

Remember, your words echo long after the session ends. A coach’s belief in a junior can often outweigh even their own self-doubt.

7. Common Pitfalls to Avoid

• Overloading feedback: Too many corrections can overwhelm
• Focusing only on winners: Juniors need to know their value isn’t tied solely to points
• Ignoring emotional cues: Fatigue, frustration, or anxiety can kill confidence if unaddressed

Being aware of these pitfalls helps coaches maintain a steady, confidence-building environment.

8. Quick Confidence-Boosting Exercises

• Success Journal: Have juniors note three things they did well each session
• Mirror Feedback: Show juniors videos of themselves executing drills—celebrate improvements
• Peer Praise: Encourage juniors to compliment each other’s efforts—builds team and individual confidence

Consistency is key. Small, frequent boosts often outweigh occasional grand gestures.

9. Final Thoughts

Confidence isn’t a magic potion—it’s a scaffolded, deliberate construction, brick by brick. With the right mindset strategies, thoughtful communication, and a nurturing environment, coaches can empower juniors to take ownership of their game, embrace challenges, and step onto the court with self-belief.

At OLIVER, we’ve seen first-hand the transformation when juniors start to believe in themselves: they play harder, think sharper, and smile wider. Coaching confidence is a long-term investment, but it’s one of the most rewarding you can make. Because when a junior leaves the court feeling unstoppable, that victory lasts a lifetime.

Ready to build the next generation of confident, fearless squash players?

Coaches, parents, and club leaders—start applying these principles today. Observe, encourage, celebrate, and challenge. Every rally is an opportunity to grow, every point a lesson in belief.

For more tips on coaching, equipment, and junior development, explore our Coach’s Corner blog series and squash resources designed to help your players play beyond limits.