Legendary NFL coach John Madden once said, “Winning’s the great deodorant and conversely, when you have a bad record, everything stinks.”
It’s true, winning often masks problems that stink on the sports field and brings positive vibes to a team. It is hard to discount results.
But there’s a sinister side to this, especially in youth sports, where winning can mask a lack of development, poor coaching, parent behaviour, lack of playing time for some players and other issues. “But we won the league” is used to justify not giving children meaningful playing time or focusing on skill development. This compromises the essence of youth sports.
Furthermore, winning can make coaches and players less critical of their performance. The “we won, so it doesn’t matter how we played” mindset can lead to complacency and hinder improvement. Undefeated teams might miss opportunities to grow because they emphasize the result over self-assessment.
In contrast, a losing team may scrutinize their stinking performance more closely, looking at what went wrong, encouraging individual and collective growth. The vibe changes from finger-pointing to acceptance of roles. Coaches and athletes should maintain a beginner’s mindset regardless of the outcome. This technical, tactical, and emotional consistency breeds excellence and keeps everyone humble.
So, whether you’re a parent, player or a coach, harness the positivity of winning while keeping a commitment to continuous improvement. If your environment solely prioritizes winning at the cost of growth and development, consider if it’s the right place for your child or your coaching journey.
In the end, a season with just enough “stink” can lead to significant growth, development, and smiles on every athlete’s face.
