There’s a certain type of confidence you see in elite athletes—irrational, unshakable, sometimes bordering on delusional. Delusional, but somehow it works.
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT6WeuD68/
I thought this was a cool interview — but also made me feel a little penitent.
When my daughter was young, she was a strong baby soccer player — fast, fearless, and could dribble straight past anyone (the only skill that matters in AYSO). We had a joke:
Me: “Who’s the best?”
Lexie: “Me!”
As she got older and started playing competitive soccer, that joke turned into a mantra. Before every game:
“Who’s the best?”
“Me.”
Where I Messed Up
As the competition got tougher and she wasn’t always the best on the field or even her team, and I started saying things like:
“You can’t just say you’re the best—you have to prove it. You have to do the work. There are better players now.”
I thought I was pushing her to grow. But looking back, I wish I could take those words back.
Without realizing it, I started to chip away at that irrational confidence. And what I didn’t understand then—but do now—is that confidence is a superpower.
The Aura Is Real
Alex Morgan talks about a kind of aura—some players step onto the field and you feel their belief.
My dad used to joke that to be a great basketball scorer, you had to be “half-dumb”—you had to believe the next six shots were going in, even if you missed the last six.
That belief defies logic. But somehow it seems to usurp logic as well.
Rebuilding Confidence
As kids get older, “You’re the best!” can ring a little hollow unless you are on the National Team or breaking par in golf. Now, as a dad, I like to use the term superpowers. Every player has a superpower. Strong dominant foot, dribbling, great shooting, high IQ, competitiveness etc. For my son in golf, “Who is the best putter?” “Go show em how to putt today!” I like the framing:
What are you great at? How do we do more of that?
Because the athletes who make it are often the ones who believe first, and prove it second. Like Alex Morgan.
In Sum…
If you see irrational confidence in a young athlete, protect it. Don’t rush to “humble” them or weigh it down with realism.
That belief might be their greatest advantage.
justinsadauskas 