Youth sports offer countless benefits beyond just physical fitness. Many of those benefits follow youth athletes into adulthood and their working lives. One of the most valuable lessons taught is the art of failing in public. Today, I’ll offer a perspective based on my own experience to explore how participating in youth sports equips young athletes with resilience, determination and valuable life skills. So, let’s dive right in!
Embracing Failure
Youth sports provide an ideal platform for young athletes to experience failure in a supportive environment. Whether it’s a missed goal or shot from the spot, a foul shot that rims out, a dropped ball, a strikeout or a simple defeat, these experiences teach them that setbacks are a natural part of life. Instead of shying away from challenges, with the right coaching and guidance, they learn to embrace failure as a steppingstone towards growth and improvement.
I’m not talking about diminishing the failure or loss with “it’s just a game”-type consolation. I’m talking about making time to sit with the failure, feel it fully and let it fuel growth. After the sting has worn off a little, encourage the youth athlete to talk about the experience, watch a game film if it’s available and then look for the lessons that will inform future training.
Personally, I’ve struck out plenty… on and off the field. While disappointing to myself and my team, I know that I’ll get another chance at bat. I’ll learn from the experience and approach the plate or situation a little more informed, better prepared and a lot more determined.
Building Resilience
By facing failure head-on, young athletes develop resilience. They learn to bounce back from disappointments, setbacks and mistakes. This invaluable skill extends far beyond the playing field and prepares them for the challenges that lie ahead in life.
Growing up, I loved basketball. My mother loved it too. She even played it on her high school varsity team. While I was a decent athlete in high school, basketball wasn’t my strong suit. That didn’t deter me, so I tried out for the team. Initially, I was cut and faced a reality check. However, another player faced academic issues, which opened the last spot for me.
I hated every minute of training, but I said, 'Don't quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.
– Muhammad Ali
During practice, I primarily played defense for the starters and left each evening drenched in sweat and exhausted. What was the result of that work? I rode the bench. But I also wore the same jersey the starters did, and I loved it. My work ethic during practice also earned a momentary starting role during the season and the respect of my teammates.
Nurturing Determination
Youth sports teach young athletes the importance of perseverance and determination. When faced with failure, they understand that success requires hard work and dedication. They learn to set goals, work tirelessly to achieve them and never give up, even in the face of adversity.
I've missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.
– Michael Jordan
I quickly realized that no matter how hard I worked to improve my basketball game, I didn’t have what it took to make Varsity. So I focused on another love, baseball. While my defensive skills at first base were solid and stolen base percentage high, my batting average needed improvement.
I set out to systematically improve my hand-eye coordination, bat speed, ability to anticipate and hit a breaking ball and knowledge of the pitchers I faced. Was my experience a Cinderella story? No, I was never scouted for the big leagues. But I still carry the life lessons I learned on the field with me today.
Life Lessons
The ability to fail gracefully and learn from mistakes is a life skill that extends beyond the realm of sports. Young athletes who embrace failure in a supportive environment are better equipped to navigate real-world challenges. They develop problem-solving skills, adaptability and a growth mindset that serves them well in their personal and professional lives.
Striking out in front of family, friends, even a bunch of strangers, isn’t fun. Believe me! However, it teaches a player humility, to own the failure and be open to coaching and to work hard between games in batting practice. It even drives players to crave additional time outside practice in the batting cages.
The same is true at work and in life. The flubbed interview for the job. The presentation that didn’t go so well. The rejected report. All these failures and others like them are opportunities to learn, grow and becomes a better version of yourself next time.
You miss 100% of the shots you don't take.
– Wayne Gretzky
Parting Thoughts
Participating in youth sports offers a great gift to young athletes: the opportunity to learn how to fail in public. By embracing failure, building resilience, nurturing determination, and acquiring invaluable life lessons, they develop into well-rounded individuals ready to take on the world. So, let’s celebrate the role of youth sports in shaping our future generations and fostering their growth through the ups and downs of life.
My advice?
To players: When you fail, and you will, let it sting but don’t wallow. Reflect. Make a plan. Remember life isn’t a spectator sport and practice makes permanent.
And just keep swinging!
Don’t look back, leave it all
on the track.
– Tucker, Racing Stripes
To parents: Resist the temptation to dismiss the failure, thinking you’ll make your child feel better. You won’t. Above all, avoid dissecting the game and your child’s performance on the ride home. Take your cue from the player. Give them space. Reassure them you love them for who they are and you’re available when they’re ready for whatever they need. Check in with them later in the day, the next day… after their next practice. Praise who they are, not what they did or didn’t do.
To coaches: Create and foster a supportive environment where failure in practice creates opportunities to learn and where failure during games creates an opportunity to grow – both individually and together. You have an extraordinary responsibility. You need to be on your game. Always.
The impressions my coaches have made on me – good and bad – have lasted a lifetime. Before your next training session or competition, take a moment and ask yourself, “How do I want to be remembered by these players a decade from now?”
Then let the players play!
Such a timely topic. Thank you, Al