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For Parents · Sporting Athletic Club
03

Post-Practice/Game

What you say in the first few minutes after is what sticks.

The minutes right after a game or training are the most emotionally charged - and what you say there is what sticks the longest.

What often happensReplaying the game - the missed chance, the giveaway, "you should have..." - or leading with "did you win?"
Try insteadSix words: "I love watching you play." Then let them talk first - if they want to. Save any analysis for much later, or skip it. If they're down, keep it simple: "Tough one - want to grab food?"
Why it works

It separates your love from their performance, which is exactly what takes the pressure off and keeps the game fun. Kids who feel judged after games are the ones who quietly burn out and quit. Kids who feel supported keep playing - and, freed from the fear of the post-game review, they actually play with more freedom and confidence.