After a bad soccer game. What to say.
What to say after a rough soccer match. The script that skips the tactical breakdown and keeps the relationship intact.
What they're feeling
- · Frustrated, especially if they missed chances.
- · Like the game got away from them before they could stop it.
- · Tired in a way that makes emotions harder to manage.
- · Not ready for a tactical breakdown.
What to say (pick one)
- "That was a grind. You stayed in it."
- "I saw some good moments out there."
- "Ready to go?"
Then stop talking.
What not to say
- "You kept playing too wide."
- "Your coach should have pulled you before the third goal."
- "You're better than that goalkeeper. What happened?"
The rule
Soccer is ninety minutes of making decisions under pressure. They know what didn't work.
If they bring it up
- · Let them name one or two things they want to fix.
- · Don't add to the list.
- · Ask what they felt good about today, even if it was small.
Pin this
After a bad soccer game
- · Skip the tactical replay on the way home.
- · Ask what they want for dinner, not what happened in the 55th minute.
- · Good parents at soccer games mostly just watch.
parentcoachdesk.com/scripts
You might also need
Your kid had a bad game. Here's what to say.
What to say in the first 90 seconds when the game went badly. The script that protects the relationship and the rest of the week.
During a slump. What to say.
What to say when your kid is stuck in a stretch of bad games. The script for when the spiral starts.
After a loss. What to say.
What to say after a loss. The script that keeps the car ride from making a tough game feel even worse.