07/14/2026
This weekend at the baseball field, I watched a player come off the field absolutely devastated. Before anyone could say a word, they had already decided the loss was entirely their fault.
It made me stop and think...
Why do so many kids carry the weight of an entire game on their shoulders?
Baseball (and most sports) is a TEAM game. There isn't one pitch, one at-bat, one error, or one strikeout that determines the outcome. Every player contributes. Every player makes mistakes. Every player has moments they wish they could have back.
So how do we help our kids understand that?
We remind them that their value isn't tied to one play. We talk about the countless moments throughout a game that all add up—not just the one they remember. We teach them to own mistakes, learn from them, and then move on.
Because the strongest teammates aren't the ones who never make mistakes. They're the ones who bounce back, encourage others, and show up ready for the next play.
Confidence isn't believing you'll never fail. It's knowing one mistake doesn't define you.
What are you doing to help your young athlete see the bigger picture?
