đ Confidence Isnât Given â Itâs Earned
âGreatness is a lot of small things done well, day after day.â â Ray Lewis
Runner on first. Youâre behind the plate.
This kid runs like heâs got rockets on his shoes. You know heâs stealing. And you know you have one chance to shut him down.
Most players would feel nerves in this moment. But not you. Because youâve thrown to second base hundreds of times this week alone. Over and over. Reps in the cage. Reps after practice. Reps in the dark when no one was watching.
So when the pitch comes in, thereâs no hesitation. The throw is sharp, right in the box. Your teammate lays down the tag. Out.
That moment wasnât luck. It wasnât a feeling. It was earned.
𧏠The Insight
Confidence is built in the dark and revealed under the lights.
We often think athletes are âborn confident.â But the truth is, the best of the best trust themselves because theyâve done the work. Theyâve paid the price in practice â so when the spotlight turns on, they can cash in on what theyâve already earned.
đ¤źââď¸ The Story
Most people know Ray Lewis as the ferocious linebacker who led the Ravens to two Super Bowl wins. Few know he was also a dominant high school wrestler.
At first, he didnât even want to wrestle. But by his senior year, it became his obsession. He wanted to win state â and he wasnât about to leave it to chance.
In addition to grueling practices and lifting sessions, he created his now-famous âdeck of cardsâ routine: flip a card, do that many push-ups. Face cards were worth 10. Aces were 25. One deck. Then sometimes two. Sometimes heâd add sit-ups. Sometimes heâd do it twice a day.
It wasnât just physical conditioning. It was mental conditioning. Those daily, intentional reps gave him a level of confidence no opponent could shake.
He didnât walk into state thinking he might win. He walked in knowing heâd already paid the price.
đ The Shift
Donât chase confidence. Chase preparation.
Confidence is just the receipt you get when youâve put in the work.
đ§ The Takeaway
âConfidence isnât about thinking youâll win â itâs knowing youâve prepared so well that doubt doesnât stand a chance.â â Coach Catalyst
đ Put It Into Practice
Hereâs how parents can help their athletes earn confidence:
Encourage extra reps. Repetition builds trust in their body.
Celebrate effort over outcome. Praise the hours they put in, not just the stats on game day.
Remove barriers. Drive them to the cage, rebound for them in the driveway, or create space in the yard.
Model discipline. Share your own examples of doing the hard work when no oneâs watching.
Keep perspective. Remind them that confidence is built day by day â not gifted overnight.
đ
The Locker Room
To the athletes:
Donât just âget the work in.â Do the work with purpose.
Running routes? Cut sharper.
Sprinting? Push past 80%.
Taking ground balls? Focus on your feet, not just your glove.
Confidence doesnât come from going through the motions. It comes from stacking intentional reps until your preparation leaves no room for doubt.
â¤ď¸ The Parentsâ Bleachers
Your child doesnât need you to hand them confidence. They need your help creating the conditions where they can earn it.
Clear their schedule so they can put in the work.
Spend time rebounding, tossing, or catching â not as a coach, but as a partner.
Encourage the process. Show them that the small, boring reps are the ones that matter most.
Confidence is a family effort. You donât have to do the work for them â but you can make sure nothing stops them from doing it.
⥠BE THE CATALYST
Reply to this email: Whatâs one routine, habit, or drill that gives your athlete the most confidence?
Forward this to another parent or coach who needs the reminder: confidence isnât given â itâs earned.