Athletics & Wellness
Juniors (Ages 8-11)
10 min
Handling Mistakes & Losing
Reframe a mistake as part of learning.
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1
Everyone Makes Mistakes
In sports and in life, everyone makes mistakes. Even the most famous professional athletes miss a shot, drop a ball, or make a wrong move. Mistakes are a normal and expected part of learning and playing. They are not a sign of failure; they are a sign that you are trying new things.
2
The Bounce-Back Mindset
What matters most isn't the mistake, but what you do next. This is called resilience, which is your ability to bounce back after a tough moment. Instead of feeling down, take a deep breath and get ready for the next play. Your team is counting on you to stay focused and positive.
3
What Can I Learn?
Every mistake is a secret lesson. After a game or practice, think about a mistake you made. Instead of being upset, ask yourself a simple question: 'What did I learn?' Maybe you learned to communicate better with a teammate or to try a different technique next time.
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Challenging
The process of learning from a mistake in sports is most like which of these school situations?
0.A. Getting a 100% on a test you found very easy.
1.B. Reviewing the wrong answers on a math quiz to understand what to study next.
2.C. Hiding a bad report card from your parents.
3.D. Memorizing facts the night before a test and then forgetting them.
Challenging
A team captain sees that players are afraid to try challenging passes because they don't want to make a mistake. What's the best way for the captain to help?
0.A. Encourage players during practice, celebrating the effort of trying a hard pass, even if it fails.
1.B. Tell the coach to bench anyone who makes a mistake.
2.C. Announce that from now on, only simple, safe passes are allowed.
3.D. Yell at players for being scared to take risks.
Easy
According to the lesson, making a mistake is a sign that you are...
0.A. Trying new things.
1.B. Not good at the sport.
2.C. Going to lose the game.
3.D. A bad teammate.
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