Dealing with Defeat.
1st February 2011

Playing in youth football as part of a structured team teaches young footballers a number of life skills, though sometimes the lessons are hard to take. The football coach needs to understand that despite the talent in the team and the spirit in which the group plays, the games they play may not always got to plan, despite the preparation done beforehand getting the team ready and the expectation that it brings.

The coach might find they watch their team play, in which they get the run of the ball and everything else seems right, though somehow their team ends up on the wrong side of the score-line. This is just how football works sometimes and sadly no amount of effort on the training ground can prepare the coach for such games.

Losing games can be put down to the learning process, and rarely do teams go through a whole season without a loss.

The important thing is not to dwell on the defeat and let it go as soon as it happens. The key thing to remember, is following a defeat you need to consider your words carefully, because this is just the sort of occasion that is likely to stick in your player's minds.

Losing is not the end of the world, although behaving as if it is, is. Regardless of the score-line make sure your players shake hands with the opposition, however hard that might be for them, and as the coach be gracious in defeat and acknowledge the opposition's achievement.

The older the team are the more they will be affected by the losing result, and there are a few things the coach should consider to ensure the team doesn't take the defeat too badly.

Turn the defeat into a learning experience
Every game should be looked on as a chance to learn and grow. Discuss the game in the next training session picking out the areas where the team didn't perform as well, but also make sure to point out any positives that came out of the game, however limited they might be.

Give out post match treats
the coach should not only reward the team when it has done well, and keeping to a routine whatever the score, helps to reinforce the message you are giving.

Let the team be disappointed
Young footballers put everyhting into their sport and it's natural for them to be diappointed if they lose, especially if it's a crucial match of a derby game. Don't dismiss the defeat as if it was not important and give the players time to take in losing the game and allow them to move on from it.

 Further Reading:

• FA Young Player Development Recommendations

• FA The Future Game

• FA The Coaching Pathway