Winning and Losing
Coaches and athletes must remind themselves that winning is measured by how well they apply all their effort and maintain self-control in pressure situations. Winning means more than where you place at the finish line. An athlete is never a loser if he/she gives maximum effort.
To that end, the first question a coach needs to ask before a competition is
- "Are you ready to give it everything you've got?"
The first questions after a competition need to be
- "How did that feel?"
- "Do you feel like you did your best?"
Coaching Tip
- Remember, positive thoughts yield positive results.
Well-prepared athletes will handle their performance and the performance of their competitors in a positive and sportsmanlike manner in accordance to the Athlete's Code of Conduct and the Official Sports Rules for your sport. A losing outcome does not negatively impact the athletes' confidence if the coach and athletes have been successful in developing a winning attitude.
The athlete's effort, attitude and personal skills attainment must be rewarded and positively reinforced.
It is also important to remind athletes that the point of competing in Special Olympics is to prove to themselves and the rest of the world what they can do. The award ceremony is a chance for the world to see a group of skilled athletes celebrating their sport skills and enjoyment of competition.
Athletes of all ages, regardless of intellectual ability, enter competitions to do their best and hopefully to win. Is it all right to be disappointed when you do not win? Of course it is. But also, it is a chance to evaluate your performance and make a training commitment that will help you perform better next time.
