It is completely normal for a nine-year-old to look for your approval, as they often view your opinion as the ultimate scorecard for their effort. At this age, I would be less concerned with how good he was and more interested in how much he enjoyed the challenge. Instead of assessing his performance, shift the focus to his experience. You could ask, What was your favourite moment today, or did you try anything new? If he asks again, simply reply with, I loved watching you play. By shifting the conversation away from technical assessment, you remove the pressure of being judged. Save any specific feedback for training sessions where the coach is responsible for the developmental side of his game.
