How Do Bad Games Hurt Confidence?
Summary: Discover how to evaluate athletic performance beyond stats. Shift from a pass/fail mindset to assessing effort, resilience, and teamwork. Learn from USMNT’s Brenden Aaronson, who values game influence over numbers. Ask: Did you stay composed? Did you adapt? This approach builds stable confidence, enhances consistency, and drives long-term growth for athletes.
It may not be your performance that is problematic, but how you evaluate your performance. Most athletes give themselves a pass/ fail grade after a competition, usually based on statistics.
For example, a basketball player records a double-double, she might view her performance as successful. Conversely, if she scored 15 points but only recorded nine assists, she might give herself a failing grade.
Likewise, a tennis player may see success as a win and a loss as a failure, no matter how highly ranked their opponent. Or a hockey player may equate success with scoring one or more goals in a game. A game without a goal is then viewed as failure.
As you can guess, there is a problem with a pass/ fail grading system. With a limited view of success, your confidence will rise and fall according to whether or not you achieve a pre-ordained number.
When confidence is tied to numbers, it becomes unstable and leads to inconsistent performance. The issue with a limited definition of success is that it doesn’t take into account the whole picture.
A stat sheet doesn’t reflect your effort, improvement, decision-making, resilience, leadership, positive impact on your teammates, or positive aspects of your performance. It also doesn’t provide feedback for what went wrong and how to grow from those lessons.
How do You Define Success?
Defining success strictly by the numbers is not a healthy or accurate way to evaluate performance. A better approach is to evaluate your performance through a wider lens.
- Did you give full effort?
- Did you stay composed under pressure?
- Did you adjust when your first strategy didn’t work?
- Did you put your teammates in a position to make plays?
- Did you implement strategies that you were working on during practices?
A performance evaluation that includes internal metrics helps strengthen confidence and consistency. Take, for example, USMNT and Leeds United midfielder Brenden Aaronson. During the 2025 season, Aaronson scored nine goals and two assists in 46 matches.
What you don’t see from the numbers alone is the contribution Aaronson made to Leeds United’s promotion back to the Premier League after two years in the Championship League. While not ignoring the significance of numbers, Aaronson views individual success through a broader scope.
AARONSON: “People say stats ruin the game, and in one way I kind of agree because you can partly judge a player on how many assists or goals, but you also have to look at the pre-assists or what they do throughout the game to influence it.”
How you evaluate your performance significantly impacts confidence, improvement, and ultimately, how much you advance your game in the future.
Shifting from a narrow, numbers-only perspective to a broader, more realistic performance assessment gives you a clearer, more constructive view of your overall game.
Confidence built on effort, adaptability, resilience, and growth is far more stable and the key to unlocking your potential as an athlete.
Next time you evaluate your performance, ask better questions:
What did I learn today? What did I do well? Where can I grow? Over time, you will notice a boost in your confidence and a greater sense of control over your athletic development.
4 Mental Game Tips for Athletes
Strengthen your mental approach with these four tips. They guide you to assess performance clearly, boost confidence, and promote steady growth. Each tip offers practical steps to refine your mindset and elevate your game.
1. Look Beyond Stats
Stop judging success by numbers alone, like goals or wins. Focus on your effort, choices, and adaptability in games. Ask: Did you stay calm under pressure? Did you apply practice strategies? This wider view builds lasting confidence and keeps your performance steady.
2. Track Internal Progress
Measure success with factors like resilience and teamwork. Reflect on questions: Did you lift your teammates? Did you adjust after a failed plan? These insights fuel growth and maintain your confidence, unlike stats that can mislead.
3. Learn from Setbacks
Treat losses or weak stats as chances to improve. Ask: What did you learn? Where can you grow? This mindset strengthens your mental toughness and helps you adapt, even against tough opponents or in high-stakes moments.
4. Reflect After Every Game
Build confidence by reviewing each performance. Note what you did well and where you can improve. Journal or think: Did you give full effort? How did you help your team? Regular reflection sharpens your focus and drives consistent progress.
FAQ – Assessing Athlete Performance
Why is a pass/fail grading system harmful for athletes?
Judging performance only by stats, like goals or wins, creates unstable confidence. It ignores effort, growth, and teamwork. This narrow focus leads to inconsistent results and limits your progress.
How can I evaluate my performance better?
Look beyond numbers. Assess your effort, adaptability, and leadership. Ask: Did you stay composed? Did you help teammates succeed? This broader view builds stronger confidence and consistency.
What are internal metrics, and why do they matter?
Internal metrics include resilience, decision-making, and teamwork. They reveal your true impact in a game, unlike stats alone. Tracking these helps you grow and maintain steady performance.
How do setbacks help me improve?
Losses or weak stats offer lessons. Reflect on what went wrong and how to adjust. This approach strengthens your mental toughness and prepares you for future challenges.
How does self-reflection boost my confidence?
Reviewing your performance highlights strengths and areas to improve. Ask: What did you do well? Where can you grow? Regular reflection builds confidence based on effort, not just outcomes.
How can I apply these tips in practice?
After each game, review your effort and choices. Note what you learned and how you helped your team. Use these insights to set goals and refine your skills in training.
Related Sports Psychology Article
- How Pro Athletes Respond After a Team Loss
- How to Deal with an Unexpected Sports Loss
- How Athletes Respond to a Loss
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