Win or Lose, Build a Young Player’s Confidence

Kids who are taught to overvalue winning might feel bad about themselves as athletes when they lose.  Darrell Burnett, a leading youth sports expert, identified two questions you can ask your player after a loss. Dr. Burnett stated, “Get their mind off of a loss by asking specific questions.” Here are the questions:

  1. What did you learn today?
  2. What do you want to improve?

To build confidence in your young athletes, emphasize the importance of learning new skills and improving their play rather than just winning.

Editor’s Note: Special thanks to Darrell Burnett for this tip.

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