There’s a lesson to be learned here

It’s natural to feel protective of our kids. We don’t like to see our kids feel bad or struggle. Unfortunately, it’s the nature of sports to have winners and losers. And while the thrill of victory is a wonderful feeling, the agony of defeat can be heartbreaking. But those can also be some of the most teachable moments for young athletes.

Learning to lose with grace helps keep things in perspective. Even at its most competitive levels, a sport is just a sport. And in the grand scheme of things, it’s the skills our young athletes learn and the memories that they make that will stand the test of time, not any individual result. It’s easy to get caught up in the moment, but as cliched as it may be, sometimes it’s the journey that counts and not the destination.

“Success is not a destination, it’s a journey.” – Zig Ziglar, American author specializing in personal development training

Life is going to throw disappointment at everyone. Even when the outcome isn’t what they wanted, young athletes can still hold their heads high and be respectful because they did their best at the time. These moments are motivational ones – be better, learn from your mistakes, and move on, because making a mistake is part of the game.

“Making a mistake is a part of the game. It will happen, so how you handle those mistakes is what counts and what will determine your success. Learn from them and move forward.” – Christie Rampone, former captain of the women’s U.S. soccer team