Introduction
“I will always take someone who has a great attitude and tries hard, regardless of talent.”
This quote from a coach in our community sparked a discussion that every grassroots coach needs to hear.
The Talent Trap
We’re conditioned to spot talent. The kid who dribbles past everyone. The one with the powerful shot. The natural athlete.
But talent without attitude creates problems:
Short-Term Gains, Long-Term Pain
Talented players with poor attitudes often dominate at younger ages. They’re physically ahead, technically superior, mentally checked out.
By U14, the gap closes. Work ethic catches up. And the talented player who never had to try? They don’t know how to respond when things get difficult.
Cultural Contamination
“Bad attitude will rub off on other kids and cause more issues.”
One talented player with poor attitude can undo months of cultural work. Other players see them get away with less effort. Standards drop. Resentment builds.
Coach Energy Drain
Managing attitude problems consumes disproportionate coaching time. Time that should go to players who want to improve.
The Attitude Advantage
Players with great attitudes offer something talent alone cannot:
Coachability
They listen. They try. They implement feedback. They fail and try again.
This creates a compound effect. Small improvements stack. By the end of the season, the hard worker has closed gaps that seemed insurmountable in August.
Cultural Contribution
They lift standards. They encourage teammates. They model what commitment looks like.
Other players see effort rewarded. The culture becomes self-reinforcing.
Longevity
Players who love working hard, love improving, love the process? They stay in football.
The talented player who only enjoyed dominating? They quit when it gets competitive.
Finding the Balance
This isn’t about rejecting talented players. It’s about prioritising character as the foundation.
The Ideal
Talent + Attitude = The dream. Develop both.
The Priority
When you have to choose? Attitude wins.
A hard-working player with average ability will:
- Improve more over a season
- Contribute more to team culture
- Be more enjoyable to coach
- Stay in football longer
The Reality
You can develop skills. You cannot install character.
A player who arrives with good attitude can be taught technique. A player who arrives with bad attitude rarely changes through coaching alone.
Practical Application
In Selection
Ask yourself: “Would I want 11 of this player’s attitude on my team?”
If no, reconsider their place regardless of ability.
In Feedback
Praise effort as much as outcome. “I love how hard you worked on that” matters more than “Great goal.”
In Standards
Apply expectations equally. The talented player doesn’t get a pass on attitude because they score goals.
In Your Own Mindset
Stop being dazzled by talent. Start noticing work ethic.
Conclusion
“The talented kids with a bad attitude are the absolute worst. So difficult to deal with.”
Every experienced coach knows this. Every new coach learns it.
Save yourself the lesson. Pick attitude. Develop talent. Build character first.