this may seem silly, but all my girls left the park in tears the other night after losing "championship" game (10u rec league, 3 teams in our league).
this group really came around last 5-6 games, and really started to get it for the most part, and effort was amazing that night (and we were down best hitter who was also probably best fielder as well) . early in the inning, my DD comes off in tears after 'lining" out to SS (kind of a loopy line drive, not a rocket, but well hit ball for 8 yr old); when final out was made, the batter (pop up to pitcher, tiny 7 yr old, but one of my better players) starts to cry as she comes to dugout, and whole team is in tears as we lineup to shake hands (and or course small delay as other team celebrates, but nothing unsportsmanlike, they actually lined up pretty quick, maybe 45 seconds, but I could tell it seemed like 4 hours to the girls). All through the game (we trailed by anywhere from 1-4 throughout), I had to keep getting their spirits up, and make certain they understood we were right in it.
This played their hearts out, left it all on the field, I could not ask for anything more than they gave, and I told them all through handshakes and medal ceremony, and took them to RF after the game to explain to them again, but nothing seemed to help. I am wondering what else I could have told them. I gave them variations on:
-they played their best, and no shame in the outcome, both teams play to win, but only one can, even if both play well.
-no one individual players' fault, we win as a team, lose as a team. everyone could have made one play differently that might have changed outcome (hit ball one foot to right for base hit rather than out, thrown to P instead of trying for out at home no chance on, etc.)
-this is supposed to be hard, if it was easy, all their classmates (most go to same school) would be doing it and doing it well.
-they all improved so much, as individuals and as a team, and I want to see them all back next season. might not be on my team or even still in this division, but I will see them nonetheless (two DDs in league, so at park probably 3 nights a week).
thinking again of how hard they played that game in particular, and the last 5 or 6 in general, damn allergies. I think they lost by 4 or more they would not have cared so much.
what else can a coach say?
this group really came around last 5-6 games, and really started to get it for the most part, and effort was amazing that night (and we were down best hitter who was also probably best fielder as well) . early in the inning, my DD comes off in tears after 'lining" out to SS (kind of a loopy line drive, not a rocket, but well hit ball for 8 yr old); when final out was made, the batter (pop up to pitcher, tiny 7 yr old, but one of my better players) starts to cry as she comes to dugout, and whole team is in tears as we lineup to shake hands (and or course small delay as other team celebrates, but nothing unsportsmanlike, they actually lined up pretty quick, maybe 45 seconds, but I could tell it seemed like 4 hours to the girls). All through the game (we trailed by anywhere from 1-4 throughout), I had to keep getting their spirits up, and make certain they understood we were right in it.
This played their hearts out, left it all on the field, I could not ask for anything more than they gave, and I told them all through handshakes and medal ceremony, and took them to RF after the game to explain to them again, but nothing seemed to help. I am wondering what else I could have told them. I gave them variations on:
-they played their best, and no shame in the outcome, both teams play to win, but only one can, even if both play well.
-no one individual players' fault, we win as a team, lose as a team. everyone could have made one play differently that might have changed outcome (hit ball one foot to right for base hit rather than out, thrown to P instead of trying for out at home no chance on, etc.)
-this is supposed to be hard, if it was easy, all their classmates (most go to same school) would be doing it and doing it well.
-they all improved so much, as individuals and as a team, and I want to see them all back next season. might not be on my team or even still in this division, but I will see them nonetheless (two DDs in league, so at park probably 3 nights a week).
thinking again of how hard they played that game in particular, and the last 5 or 6 in general, damn allergies. I think they lost by 4 or more they would not have cared so much.
what else can a coach say?