Student Athlete Identity: 3 Ways to Boost Your Confidence This Season

Sandy Robinson
Aug 10
3 min read

Updated: Aug 17

GRIT Sunday Series: Week 2 Devotion | August 10, 2025

The first week of school is officially in the books. You’ve met new teachers, seen old friends, maybe made new ones, and started balancing classes with volleyball practice.

This is a crucial moment in shaping your student athlete identity , because how you show up in these early weeks sets the tone for your entire season.

This week, we’re talking about confidence , not the loud, flashy kind, but the steady, dependable confidence that comes from knowing who you are and whose you are.

Click below to Download and Print a PDF version:

Weekly Reset Theme: Confidence is Built, Not Borrowed

Confidence doesn’t come from hoping others will notice you. It comes from stacking small wins and doing the work, even when no one’s watching.

Think of your student athlete identity as your personal highlight reel, but instead of big plays, it’s made up of the daily decisions you make:

Showing up on time
Giving your best in drills
Encouraging a teammate
Owning your mistakes and learning from them

These moments are what make you trustworthy, respected, and confident.

Student Athlete Identity- Weekly Check-In:

Where did I feel confident this week, and why?

Confidence often shows up in the areas we’ve been consistent. Maybe it was in a serve you’ve been practicing all summer, or in speaking up during group work in class.

Identify the link between your effort and your confidence, and then keep feeding that connection. This is how you grow your student athlete identity into something unshakable.

Scripture of the Week:

“So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.” - Hebrews 10:35-36

What We See About God:

God doesn’t ask for perfection before He uses you, He asks for faithfulness.

Your confidence grows when you remember that God already knows your gifts, your potential, and your purpose. You can walk into any classroom or on any court knowing you’re not alone in the work ahead.

GRIT Skill in Focus: Resilience

Confidence and resilience are teammates, one fuels the other.

When things don’t go as planned, resilience keeps you in the game. When you get back up after a missed serve or a tough quiz, you’re building confidence that can’t be shaken by one bad moment.

Mindset Tool: The Confidence Chain

Draw three circles on a piece of paper:

Effort leads to Growth, which leads to Confidence, which then creates more effort

When you put in consistent effort, you see growth. When you see growth, you gain confidence. When you’re confident, you keep putting in effort, and the chain stays strong.

Parent Conversation Starter:

Ask your athlete:

“When did you feel most confident this week, and what led to that feeling?”

Share your own answer from your week, it helps normalize the ups and downs of confidence for athletes.

Wrap-Up:

Your student athlete identity isn’t built in a single game or school day, it’s built one choice, one practice, one class period at a time.

Stay consistent, stay resilient, and remember: Confidence is something you build through the daily habits that align with who you want to be.

Sandy Robinson, High Performance Coach for Women and Teens

About the Author

Sandy Robinson is a High Performance Coach, CEO of GRIT Volleyball Club, and a passionate mentor for young athletes.

As one of the 5 founding leaders of GRIT Volleyball Club, she’s dedicated to helping students grow in confidence, character, and competitive grit, both on and off the court. When she’s not coaching, you’ll find her encouraging other women to pursue excellence in life, faith, business, and leadership.