Making mistakes is an important part of learning for everyone in every setting, but it has special significance in youth sports because children are easily embarrassed and discouraged, especially if they make mistakes in front of other kids. Parents and coaches should consciously teach children to treat failure and mistakes as necessary and expected stepping stones to growth and improvement, so that they are willing to try new things and stick with the effort despite initial failure of difficulty. Teach that mistakes are a learning tool and that if you plan on getting better, plan on making mistakes. Sports can teach children to learn from mistakes, shake them off, and try again — an attribute that will help them in all aspects of their lives now and in the future.
Photo by Flickr user mesaba