By Tammy Ceppi | Children’s Physical Literacy Specialist
1. Building Confidence and Intrinsic Motivation from the First Move
From their first catch to a victorious high-five, every Playball child is on a journey of discovery — not just of sport, but of self. It’s in the teaching and building of confidence, competence, and capacity that a strong sense of self begins to emerge. As children learn to move with control, take on new challenges, and master skills step by step, they begin to see themselves as capable — and want to keep going because it feels good. They feel proud and inspired to continue. That’s the power of intrinsic motivation: the inner drive to do something because it feels good, meaningful, or exciting — not because of a reward. It’s curiosity, pride, determination, and joy rolled into one. For children, it’s the difference between learning skills because they have to and learning skills because they want to. And that internal motivation becomes a foundation they carry with them — into school, into friendships, and into life.
2. Self-Determination Theory in Practice at Playball
This approach is supported by Self-Determination Theory, developed by psychologists Edward Deci and Richard Ryan, which identifies three psychological needs that foster intrinsic motivation: competence, autonomy, and relatedness. At Playball, we nurture all three. Our coaches scaffold skills to help children feel capable, offer choices to promote autonomy, and build strong, caring relationships that create a sense of belonging. It’s not just what we teach — it’s how we teach it that matters. Children feel safe, supported, and seen. This builds not only skill, but also belief in their ability to grow — a mindset they carry long after the session ends.
3. Guiding Growth Through Scaffolding, Challenge, and Purposeful Feedback
In every Playball class, we guide, scaffold, extend, and build — creating moments where learning feels exciting and effort feels worthwhile. We stretch children gently with layered challenges, celebrate visible progress, and give purposeful feedback that fuels motivation from within. Activities are designed to meet children where they are and grow with them — physically, socially, and emotionally. Each child is encouraged to take ownership, move at their own pace, and enjoy the process. This is where confidence is built: not from trophies, but from the knowledge that “I can.”
4. Beyond Sport: Developing Resilience, Independence, and a Positive Sense of Self
Playball isn’t just about sport — it’s about the bigger picture. When children are motivated from within, they don’t just participate — they thrive. They build resilience, independence, and a positive sense of self that transfers into the classroom, the playground, and beyond. Backed by research and grounded in real-world impact, Playball lays the foundation for success — one skill, one smile, one small win at a time.