The little hero, after a soccer game, the boys were in the middle of celebrating when a father turned to one of my players and said, “Don’t try to be a hero.”

Hearing this surprised me—I could see the child didn’t know how to respond. After thinking for a moment, I stepped in and said, “Listen to me, sir, with all due respect. In today’s game, this child played very well. That’s why he received the trophy of the day. Not only is he the hero of the team—he’s my hero too.”

Hearing my words, the nearby parents nodded and agreed, “Yes, he was the hero.” The child smiled, and from that day on, his confidence and level of play improved tremendously. He became a huge asset to the whole team.

Later, I spoke privately with the father. I explained how important it is to build a child’s morale—especially at just 10 years old—and asked him to avoid negative comments in future games.

As far as I know, that child no longer plays just at the academy level. He’s now 17 and playing for a club. He’s emerging as a future star in the senior divisions.

Moral of the story: Never underestimate the potential of a child. Every word, every gesture, can shape their development. Telling a young player, “You did well,” and giving them a hug—it might be the greatest trophy they receive that day.