04/27/2026
The current situation in sports is set up to be a failure. This travel ball world that we live in focuses on brand, championships and winning for the most part and it has to stop. Student athletes are learning at a young age that it’s unacceptable to fail, that winning at all cost is the only definition of success and that multiple games over development is acceptable. ***There are exceptions and that’s why they succeed. ***
7-13 year olds need to learn that failing is a part of life and sports. The freedom to explore and try new skills creates an environment to learn from those failures faster. When coaches scream, penalize, embarrass their players because of errors or failure, it creates a wall for that player that is often to scary or too tall to want to climb it. Then the player stops trying that skill and it delays growth rather than the desired outcome. Learning to fail with courage is a gift to our youth. Fundamentals are fun and can be challenging when allowed to mess it up and go back after it again.
I understand winning a ring is fun but it pails in comparison to building a foundation built on fundamentals, confidence, work ethic and joy. Not fleeting moments of ring ceremonies where coaches used guest players, fear tactics and winning at all cost to get it. If you look closely, half or more of the girls getting rings now a days are crying, upset or not even emotional about that ceremony because of what it took to be there.
Prioritize their joy, loving the work it takes to be consistent, praising them for trying new things, holding them accountable when they are lazy or distracted, expecting greatness in their effort not always the result.
Yes, as they get older performance matters and they need to become more consistent in the product they offer. This is an easy transition when they love the work and aren’t afraid to fail. Their confidence that was built on a firm foundation will allow them to have tougher talks and meet higher expectations from that level of play. Burnout happens at 13-14 due to the opposite and when they can’t face that transition.
Sports will always be a mental game and if that fails first, no talent in the world will overcome it.
💪🏻🔥
