Confidence is Key: 10 Ways to Help Your Athletes Race Their Best

Published October 5, 2025 

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Okay, on to today’s email…

Considering Sharing This with Your Athletes

You can find a useful article - 10 Keys for a Great Race in October and November - that you can share with your athletes.

Don't worry - it doesn't have any tips or information that will run counter to what you're telling them to get ready to crush their races this month.

What I often find with high school athletes is that they take messages to heart when they're not coming from their parents and coaches. Everything in this article is something that you'd say to them, but they might absorb it better hearing it from someone else.

I want to highlight the last item on the list, which has to do with instilling confidence in your athletes.

Something I see more in 2024 than I ever did in 2014 or 2004 is that fit kids—kids who've put in the work—are worried they can't race fast. But we both know they can. It's our job as coaches to remind them that they have what it takes.

Make sure your athletes know:

"You Have What It Takes"

Just tell them the following...

You have what it takes to run a great race.

You have what it takes to endure discomfort in the last mile.

You have what it takes to speed up and take 10 quick steps when you see a competitor pulling away from you.

You have what it takes to keep an athlete from passing you.

You have what it takes to run hard in the last 100m, 200m, or even 400m and run down your competition.

You’re fit, you’re mentally strong, and you’re prepared to race to your fitness level.

The full list is in the article - read it here - or you can download the PDF to share with your athletes.

PS – Here’s a though you might want to share with parents…

Parents:

Before championship meets, be mindful of how your energy, your tone, and even your posture impacts your runner.

When you’re with them, be positive and centered rather than “fired up” and “pumped.”

Also, it never hurts to remind them that how you feel about them today will not change when they cross the finish line.

It’s easy to assume that they know your love is forever and constant, and it doesn’t hurt to reiterate that.

I wish your runner the best!

(hat tip to Alex Lyons for the 2nd point)

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