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Teaching Players to put Disappointments Behind Them

By GameChanger and Stephen Kerr, 08/14/17, 12:45PM PDT

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Mental mistakes and setbacks are a part of any sport. 

Even the best player at any level experiences failure. While a 6-year-old might process disappointments differently from a 12-year-old, the principles for handling them are about the same.

Coaches are the ones who set the culture and tone for the youth sports experience, explains David Jacobson of Positive Coaching Alliance, a nonprofit organization devoted to creating better people through sports.

“By the time a kid gets into playing organized baseball or any other sport, they’ve had some experience with setbacks, either in school or through their parents,” Jacobson said. “But when it comes to that stage of youth sports where you and your abilities are on display, mistakes and setbacks can be traumatizing. Nobody likes to look bad, and it’s really difficult for some people to distinguish between a mistake and something that strikes at their self-worth.”