Are you mentally tough?

Mental toughness is a very common phrase for those of us who have played college soccer. Whether you're struggling to finish a 6 mile run in preseason, lifting weights that are too heavy to be lifted, or playing through a ripped muscle, mental toughness is always the solution. These are extreme cases, but to be completely serious, mental toughness is crucial to success in sports and even more importantly, success in life.
I feel it is very important when coaching, especially with young kids, to find a good balance of instilling confidence and mental toughness. You always want to celebrate the kids when they do something correct, but not to the point where every little thing is a spectacle. At the same time, you want to correct them when they are wrong, but not to the point where you are shattering their confidence.
A lot of the life lessons I have learned (a vast majority actually!) have come from experiences on the soccer field. At the U.S. Premier Soccer Academy, we strive to develop mentally tough players, as well as mentally tough people.