In sports, there are athletes of various kinds. When it comes to defeat or loss, some of the athletes do not react much to it. In fact, they forget about it immediately and then move on. However, on the other hand, there are some athletes that may react negatively. They feel distressed and dejected for days. Whenever you come across a young sportsman or an athlete feeling downhearted after a defeat, make sure you allow them to express their feelings and emotions. For instance, if a young athlete cries and expresses their feelings after a loss, it is a realistic expression of real passion. It means they are passionate about it, and you should accept it and their way of expressing their feelings regarding the defeat.

Whether it is a parent or a coach, they should never deny or pervert the feelings of a child. This is exactly what acceptance and the respect of feelings ask for. One of the examples is of a softball player. If they struck out in a game three times, you should never say that ” you did well.” They know that they did not perform so well. You may try to make them feel good; however, it can backfire. It may show that you lack understanding and are not so sincere. Similarly, saying a child that ‘ it didn’t matter” is also very wrong. In fact, at that very moment, it was the only thing that mattered the most. 

Read more: 10 WAYS TO AVOID NERVOUSNESS BEFORE CRUCIAL GAME

Guidelines For The Parents And The Coaches Regarding Post-Game Behavior After A Defeat

• Laud the sports officials for their efforts and for doing a great job. Make certain to thank them for the contributions they have made.
• You must stop focusing and thinking about the victory or the defeat of your child/team. 
• Observe for the signs that may indicate how the kids are feeling. Observe body language, expression, e.t.c.
• Before you say something, you must first listen to the youngsters. You should start with a supportive comment. Then, you should ask open-ended questions. You can ask about their favourite part of the game. Which particular part did they enjoy the most or the least? You may ask them about their individual performance. Are they satisfied with their performance and efforts? If not, what improvement would they bring the next time they play. You can also ask about what did they learn from this particular game and various other similar sorts of questions. 

Read more: CREATE A POSITIVE YOUTH SPORTS CULTURE

Tips For You That You May Follow To Help Young Athletes In Dealing With Defeat Or Losing

• Never blame or get angry with your child or the team. They are already feeling down due to the defeat.
• Make sure you avoid denying feelings of disappointment. Never say that ” it doesn’t matter”. 
• Highlight something positive that may have been achieved during the course of the game. You may take about the improvement and the efforts they put in. Motivate them to keep working hard. You can appreciate their defence or the attack or any aspect of the game. Moreover, you can simply say that you are proud of them for the way they played. Also, you can appreciate their sportsmanship. 
• If you think that a young athlete has not performed up to the mark. You may show your concern without getting angry at them. You can encourage them to improve and perform in future games. 
• You should ask your child about their learning experience from the game they played. How can they apply this to perform better in their daily life and school?