This week’s edition of the Competitive Advantage newsletter is brought to you by The Ultimate Coach Development Guide by Joerik Michiels.

Joerik Michiels is the founder of Elite Athletes in Belguim and has been training players across Europe for the last 18 years.

Joerik is one of the best coaches I know and this is his whole philosophy coaching outlined. Nine chapters to expand your thinking on your how and why.

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Understaning the difference between Junk Confidence vs Real Confidence.

We had our first road trip of the season last weekend. We were gone from Thursday after school until Saturday night.

We try hard to find decent, healthy and affordable food for our players during the trip. But by Saturday we were all showing evidence of too much junk food. My players were tired and lethargic. The diet of hotel breakfasts, pizza and subs had caught up to all of us.

We needed some quality nourishment; vegetables, protein, and whole grains. The food we ate wasn't junk food but it wasn't great either.

Junk food is tasty in the moment but in the long run, it does not nourish us the way real healthy food does.

The self-confidence of our athletes is no different. It needs to be real, rooted in their values and knowledge of past performance and preparation. Real confidence is quiet and not easily shaken by competition or tough times. Junk confidence is often loud and boisterous but like junk food, it does not sustain our athletes when they need it most.

In the last issue, I explored the importance of helping athletes work from the inside out, understanding how their sport impacts their values and identity. You can read it here.

Confidence is no different, it is also built from inside out.

Is their self-confidence real or junk?.

Fake it till you make it is a common saying in sports. It implies that if you don't feel confident, you should fake it. This is junk confidence in action. Junk confidence has its place in sports. It is helpful to overcome momentary doubt or to combat pre-game nerves. The problem is that it does not withstand the rigors of competition. When athletes rely on fake confidence, they crash, just like when they rely on junk food.

It's helpful for coaches to understand their athletes relationship with their confidence. Do you know which type of confidence your athletes draw on when things are challenging? It might help explain their performance.

Developing lasting confidence in athletes, particularly in challenging moments, is a cornerstone of effective coaching.

Confidence, as noted by Bandura’s self-efficacy theory, stems from four primary sources: putting in the work, leaning on past performance, creating a positive narrative, and regulatiing their emotions (Bandura, 1997). Coaches can leverage these to foster resilience and self-belief in their athletes.

1. Putting in the work: Success breeds confidence. Success comes when an athlete knows that they have done all that they can do to prepare. Athlete's who know they have done the work can lean on that work when challenges arise.
2. Leaning on Past Performance: Reminding players of past performance helps athletes strengthen their confidence. If they have done it in the past they can do it again. It is also a good practice to remind them of instances when they overcame adversity.
3. Creating a positive narrative: Encouraging, specific feedback builds self-belief. Research shows that affirmations focusing on effort, improvement, and controllable factors—rather than just outcomes—enhance intrinsic confidence (Hanton et al., 2004).
4. Emotional Regulation: Teaching mental skills like self-talk, imagery, and mindfulness helps athletes manage anxiety and maintain focus under pressure. By reframing nerves as excitement, for instance, athletes can stay composed and confident even in high-stakes moments.

Finally, fostering a supportive team culture where athletes feel safe to take risks and fail without fear is essential.

Coaches play a pivotal role in shaping environments where confidence is resilient, not fake, even when the going gets tough. By intentionally applying these principles, they equip athletes with confidence that endures

This week’s edition of the Competitive Advantage newsletter is brought to you by Momentum Labs.

Book a 1:1 coaching session with a Certified Mental Performance Consultant (you can even request me!) to improve your consistency, confidence, and unlock your athlete's full potential.

​Book a discovery call here.​

Join the Competitive Advantage Coaching Community

Last week I invited subscribers of this newsletter to joing the next step in the evolution of the newsletter.

So far 60 coaches have joined and started sharing how they coach the whole athlete. I am leaving registration open until we hit 100 coaches. At this time registration will close for the winter.

The Community will create an advantage for members by providing access to:

• Curation of the best coaching Podcasts, videos, books and other resources
• Courses designed to help coaches improve in all five of the pillars
• Weekly Zoom gatherings on relevant topics
• Insightful Guest Speakers
• 25 years of coaching resources ready to use with your team.
• Maybe even a few X's & O's

Let's build something great that unites and supports as many coaches as possible.

How can I help you on your coaching journey?

Let's work together.

I would love to help you or your team build a competitive advantage. Here are a few ways I can help:

• Join our community
• Consult with your team or coaching staff
• Teach mental skills to your team via Zoom
• Work 1 on 1 with coaches
• Work 1 on 1 with athletes

Shoot me an email I love to talk coaching and see how I can help you.

Coaching is hard, let's make it easier.

Send me an email at jasonpayne@evolutionmpc.com

Thanks for reading and have a great week.