Batgirl-I think team sports take more confidence because people rely upon you.  I play five aside football. There has been times that I have turned up for games because a friend has invited me. Apart from that one person, the other 9 are unknow to me and are often friends to each other. They have no previous knowledge of my abilities and you really have to prove your worth to gain acceptence.

Also, in a team game, people tend not to be too fancy, this is due to fear of letting people down. Whilst, when I play Chess I don't give myself to hard a time if I lose, and when I lose, I don't have to prove myself to others to get another game.

Man, I went to see my little nephew play sevens and they got knocked-out because he gave the ball away to the other team in the last minute of the game. His team were all gloomy and downbeat- knowing that he was responsible to a slighty larger degree than others, for their demise, really got him down, heart breaking stuff.

I think to be really, really, good at chess you need alot of confidence and self beleif, but this is the case when persueing alot of success in any sports.

Thanks for the Homer comment,

Online Vs Live  I think that online is good practice for when you play live.  Live is always better for me.  Outside is even better, unless its cold.

"I think chess is a game that takes a lot of confidence "

Yes it does.  When you play chess, there's no team to fall back on. There is you and only you. Even if your opponent is objectively stronger, you must play him (or her) as if he were your equal - that is, with a healthy respect for his skill, but with an equal confidence in your own.  Without confidence, you'll always play safe which leads to defensive play which leads to lost games.