HeadStart Coaching

HeadStart Coaching in Psychology)

Mental Skills + Football Training for 11-16 year olds - going beyond normal training and focused on using sport as a tool to develop skills for success in all areas of life - run by Auckland FC pro player Francis de Vries (B.A.

21/05/2026

3 Keys to Being a Great Teammate šŸ™ŒšŸ¼

āœ… Be Helpful

āœ… Remain Humble

āœ… Give 100%

Show up for & celebrate your teammates. And give your full effort every day, even when nobody is watching.

The best teammates donā€™t just improve the team with their ability. They improve the team with their mindset & character ā¬†ļø

Proud to have our lead coach Francis de Vries representing New Zealand on the world stage as he continues his journey to...
17/05/2026

Proud to have our lead coach Francis de Vries representing New Zealand on the world stage as he continues his journey toward the 2026 FIFA World Cup with the All Whites āš½šŸ‡³šŸ‡æ

Through Head Start, this journey is about more than football. Itā€™s about showing young athletes whatā€™s possible through consistent effort, resilience to grow from setbacks, and the mindset to keep moving forward.

An exciting chapter ahead, and we canā€™t wait to share the journey to the World Cup with you all in more depth soon.

šŸŽ¬ Episodes about Francisā€™ journey coming out on YouTube soon

14/05/2026

Build belief in young players ā€¼ļø

Belief grows when players learn to trust their ability to improve - not just their results.

When confidence is tied to outcomes at a young age, itā€™s fragile. When itā€™s tied to effort, learning, and development, it becomes more stable and something that leads to long term growth.

12/05/2026

Resilience is a process - which is built through the experiences you have šŸ§±

A football career is full of adversity. Non-selection, injuries, form drops, transitions between pro, amateur & semi-pro environmentsā€¦ None of it is linear. Over time, those experiences donā€™t just test resilienceā€¦ they build it.

Research in sport psychology shows that resilience isnā€™t a fixed trait - it develops through exposure to challenge and how we respond to it. It grows through cycles of stress, reflection, adaptation, and support.

Adversity alone doesnā€™t build resilience - having a process to learn & improve from it does.

10/05/2026

Looking to build connection in your team?

It takes more than just talking.. Build it into your warm ups šŸ«±šŸ¼ā€šŸ«²šŸ½

Team-first games create communication, shared decision-making, and small moments of cooperation before the main session even starts. When players have to solve problems together from the first drill, they start training as a unit - not just as individuals.

Connection isnā€™t simply a team meeting. Itā€™s repeated experiences of working together. Make it part of the warm-up, and the togetherness in your team will follow.

šŸ“ø from our recent webinar for coaches & team leaders

07/05/2026

šŸš˜ The Car Ride Home - one of the most impactful moments you can have on the development of mindset in young athletes.

Introducing the 2 Question Rule:

Instead of jumping straight into performance or results, limit yourself to 2 questions about enjoyment or improvement. Then let the athlete sit with that and self-reflect to build autonomy & ownership.

After games and training, emotions are high. And whatā€™s said in these moments often sticks. Young athletes develop best when they feel supported and they learn to think, not just be told.

The car ride home can either increase pressureā€¦ Or build confidence, self-awareness, and long-term motivation.

05/05/2026

āŒ Not feeling motivated consistently? One reason motivation goes up & down is because your goal isnā€™t linked to purpose.

A goal gives you direction. Purpose gives you a reason to care & keep on going when it gets tough.

Turn this into action in your training:

šŸŽÆSet a clear target - know exactly what you are working towards.

ā¤ļø Attach meaning - why does does this really matter to you?

šŸ“ˆTrack it - measure your reps & your progress to see yourself getting better towards your goal.

Now motivation isnā€™t something you wait for - it comes from clearly knowing what you want to achieve, why this matters and seeing yourself improve along the way to getting there.

Same training. More intent. Better results.

Thatā€™s how you turn mindset into motion.

03/05/2026

Mindset is trainable - just like fitness. And it changes everything.

Small daily commitments to this kind of training lead to big long-term results.

A few minutes a day to reset, reflect, and become mentally stronger.. Thatā€™s what separates athletes who get stuck from athletes who keep improving.

Make it an essential part of your training.

11/04/2026

Long-term success is built on what drives you from within šŸ§±

When your motivation comes from purpose, growth & love for the game - it lasts.

Build that within yourself, and success will follow.

11/04/2026

Long-term success is built on what drives you from within šŸ§±

When your motivation comes from purpose, growth & love for the game - it lasts.

Build that within yourself, and success will follow.

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Auckland
Auckland

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+64284667512

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