Competing With Purpose

Hey parents, let’s talk competition.

Not the "win-at-all-costs" kind, but the kind that builds character, resilience, and a lifelong love for the game. Raising a true competitor isn’t about making sure your child scores the most points or brings home the trophies. It’s about helping them develop a mindset that thrives under pressure, grows from mistakes, and supports their teammates, no matter what the scoreboard says.

One of my favorite definitions of competition is the pursuit of excellence against a worthy opponent.

If we are satisfied to simply beat others, we may feel successful momentarily, but those wins will be short-sighted and small. However, if we want to encourage our kids in lasting, meaningful growth in their sport, the emphasis must be on doing well, working hard, and learning the game. Encourage your athlete to pursue excellence in both thought and action.

We can pursue excellence in victory. We can pursue excellence in defeat.

What does this look like in real life?

It means teaching kids that success isn’t just measured in wins and losses, but in effort, attitude, and improvement. It’s celebrating the hustle play, the extra practice, the moment they push through adversity. It’s reinforcing that failure isn’t a dead end but a stepping stone to getting better.

Encouraging true competition also means modeling good sportsmanship. When our kids see us respect officials, acknowledge opponents, and focus on effort rather than outcomes, they learn that competition isn’t about tearing others down. It’s about lifting ourselves up through challenge.

So, parents, let’s redefine competition. Let’s raise athletes who chase excellence, who respect the game, and who compete with heart, win or lose. Because at the end of the day, the true victory isn’t in the scoreboard, but in the kind of person our kids become through the game.