What should young athletes be taught about winning?
In terms of the educational benefits of sports, children can learn from both winning and losing. But for this to occur, winning must be placed in a healthy perspective. My colleague, Dr. Ron Smith, and I have therefore developed a four-part philosophy of winning—an orientation that’s designed to maximize athletes' enjoyment of sports and their chances of receiving the positive outcomes of participation.
1. Winning isn't everything, nor is it the only thing.
2. Failure isn’t the same thing as losing.
3. Success isn’t equivalent to winning.
4. Athletes should be taught that success is found in striving for victory. The important idea is that success is related to commitment and effort!