Springfield Upstart Athletics

Confidence changes everything.

But it doesn’t come from being told you’re good.

It’s built slowly through experience and it’s our job as parents to allow them to try it their way.

To make their own mistakes.

To let them be uncomfortable (safely) and not jump in to rescue.

By doing so, they build that internal confidence that teaches them how to process and do things on their own

As coaches, we know kids won’t remember every game they played or every adventure they went on.
But they’ll remember how they felt.
They’ll remember the coach who cheered them on, the friends they made, and the confidence they found by trying something new

Every program has a purpose.
Each stage is designed to meet players where they are, build the right skills, and prepare them for what’s next.

Sign up for fall league at springfieldupstartathletics.com

There’s nothing wrong with just playing.
But if your goal is to help your child grow, they need more than activity—they need coaching with a purpose.
Every session should help them build confidence, improve a skill, solve problems, and learn something new.
That’s the difference between simply keeping kids busy and intentionally developing young players.

Every child develops at a different pace, and that’s okay.
When we coach young players, we’re not focused on who scores the most goals or who stands out the earliest. We’re looking for effort, curiosity, resilience, and a willingness to learn.
Those habits create confident players—and confidence is what helps skills grow over time

We’re helping players build confidence, develop coordination, learn to listen, and most importantly, enjoy the game.
Those early experiences lay the foundation for everything that comes next. When kids have fun and feel confident, they’re excited to keep learning—and that’s where real development begins.