Bouncing Back from Errors Mid-Game
Hey, team, happy Sunday!
One mistake doesn’t define you — how you respond does.
For Athletes: Recovering Fast and Refocusing
3 Ways to Bounce Back Mid-Game
Reset your body, not your thoughts. Take a deep breath, exhale tension, and get back in your stance.
Shrink your focus. Forget the scoreboard — lock in on the next pitch, next play, next moment.
Use your routine as a reset button. Wipe the dirt, fix your gloves, tap the plate — signal to yourself that you’ve moved on.
2 Quotes to Remember
Derek Jeter: “You can’t let one mistake turn into two.”
“The best players recover the fastest — not because they care less, but because they trust more.”
1 Question to Reflect On
What’s my personal reset move after a mistake?
For Parents: Teaching Resilience in Real Time
3 Ways to Respond After Your Athlete Makes a Mistake
Stay neutral. Let them process it without seeing frustration or disappointment from you.
Emphasize the bounce back. Ask later: “How did you respond?” — not “Why’d you mess up?”
Praise recovery, not perfection. Growth shows in how quickly they reset.
2 Quotes to Anchor You
“A strong mindset is built in the space between mistake and response.”
John Wooden: “Things turn out best for those who make the best of the way things turn out.”
1 Question to Reflect On
After my athlete makes a mistake, do I react in a way that helps them move forward — or dwell on it longer?
For Coaches: Modeling Calm and Confidence
3 Ways to Coach Through Mistakes Mid-Game
Be the calm in chaos. Your reaction teaches athletes how to emotionally regulate.
Use short memory language. Say, “Next one,” or “We’re good” — quick, positive, forward-focused.
Pull teachable moments later. Mid-game is for composure; post-game is for correction.
2 Quotes to Coach With
Nick Saban: “Don’t waste a failure. Learn from it.”
“The best coaches don’t prevent mistakes — they prepare athletes to respond to them.”
1 Question to Reflect On
How do I communicate composure when my team is struggling?
Mistakes are part of competition — but resilience is a skill.
The faster you reset, the faster you return to your best.
With you in the process,
David Lovell
Founder of the F.O.C.U.S. System | Mental Performance Coach
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