Regardless of the amount of points your team scores or does not score, that is not your personal value. Or the value of your opponents.
Your value is not determined by the scoreboard. You are measured by the effort and attitude you put forth. If you are involved with sports on ANY level e.g. coach, player, parent, you will experience every emotion that is humanly possible. There will be High’s and Low’s of immeasurable magnitudes. You will score touchdowns, make 3 pointers, get trucked and dunked on. You WILL experience all that is good and bad in your respective sport. The lesson to be taught and learned is that you are not the score.
We will be measured by our effort and attitude in both victory and defeat. Winning and losing games does NOT make you a better or worse person. Every single person on the team is important and has value. And that value is measured by your individual effort to help the larger team.
This is not to say the score is irrelevant. We play games regulated by time and referee’s. We practice and prepare on a daily basis to give ourselves a ‘chance’ to win the game. But we cannot afford to lose sight of the true value of competing in sports. Namely, work ethic and being a productive member of a larger group. These are the life skills we want and need our kids to carry with them away from the fields/courts and into everyday life experiences.
They must accept that success is directly proportionate to the effort and attitude exerted towards meeting their goals.
At the conclusion of every game played, there will be a winner and a loser. There will be euphoria and disappointment. As Coaches and Parents, we have to guide our children through both ends of the spectrum. Do not allow your winning players/team/parents to taunt their opposition or behave in an unsportsmanlike manner. Do not allow your losing players/team/parents to wallow in a loss.
Remind them of the big picture. There is always another game to be played. Today’s victory or loss is over. Your effort and attitude is the only thing that matters and THAT is who you are.
You are not the score.
