How Parents Can Support Their Child’s Motivation Over the Soccer Holiday Break

Why Motivation Often Drops During the Holidays

The holiday break is important for rest, recovery, and family time - but for young players, long breaks without structure can lead to:

• Loss of routine

• Reduced confidence

• Slower return to form

• Frustration when training resumes

  
  

Motivation doesn’t disappear because children don’t care - it fades when purpose and structure are missing.

The good news?

Parents play a huge role in helping children stay engaged without pressure.

1. Shift the Focus From Results to Enjoyment

During the season, players are often measured by:

• Performance

• Selection

• Goals

• Wins

The holidays are the perfect time to shift focus back to:

• Enjoyment

• Creativity

• Confidence

• Self-expression

  
  

Instead of asking:

“Did you score?”

Try: “What was the most fun thing you worked on today?” “What skill are you enjoying practising at the moment?”

When kids enjoy the process, motivation returns naturally.

2. Keep It Short, Consistent, and Achievable

Motivation doesn’t come from long sessions - it comes from success and consistency.

A simple guideline:

• 10–20 minutes

• 3–4 times per week

• Ball-focused activities

This could be:

• Ball mastery

• 1v1 moves

• Wall passes

• First touch challenges

Short sessions remove pressure and make starting easier - which is often the hardest part.

3. Let Your Child Have Ownership

Children are far more motivated when they feel in control.

Give them choices:

• “Would you rather work on turns or 1v1 moves today?”

• “Do you want to train now or later this afternoon?”

• “How many reps do you want to aim for?”

Ownership builds:

• Responsibility

• Confidence

• Internal motivation

This teaches them that training is something they choose, not something forced.

4. Separate Support From Coaching

Parents don’t need to coach - they need to support.

Avoid:

• Constant correction

• Over-instruction

• Comparing them to others

Instead, focus on:

• Encouragement

• Effort recognition

• Consistency praise

Examples:

• “I love how committed you were today.”

• “You stuck with that even when it was hard.”

• “Your confidence looks better every session.”

Confidence grows when kids feel safe to try.

5. Use the Holidays to Build Confidence, Not Pressure

Holiday periods are ideal for:

• Trying new skills

• Making mistakes

• Playing freely

This is not the time for:

• High expectations

• Performance pressure

• “You must train every day”

  
  

Confidence is built when players feel: “It’s okay to learn. It’s okay to get it wrong.”

Players who feel confident return to team training sharper, braver, and more engaged.

6. Create a Simple Routine (Not a Rigid Schedule)

Children thrive on predictable rhythms, not strict plans.

For example:

• “Soccer touches before screen time”

• “10 minutes outside after breakfast”

• “Ball work before dinner”

This makes training part of the day - not a battle.

Routine reduces resistance and keeps motivation alive naturally.

7. Remember: Breaks Are Part of Development

Rest is not laziness.Recovery is not regression.

Physically and mentally, children need:

• Downtime

• Family time

• Unstructured play

The goal of the holidays is not peak performance - it’s returning refreshed, confident, and excited.

A motivated child in January is more valuable than an exhausted one.

Final Thought

Motivation isn’t something parents need to force. It’s something you protect, guide, and nurture.

By keeping training:

• Enjoyable

• Short

• Player-led

• Pressure-free

You help your child return to the season:

• More confident

• More engaged

• Ready to learn

• Excited to improve

And that is where real development begins