Give yourself a short window to feel it. 10 minutes of frustration is fine — but set a timer, then move forward.

Review, don’t relive. Watch or think through the game once, take notes, then close the book.

Shift to process goals. Instead of “I have to play better next game,” focus on 1–2 controllables like breathing or approach.

Kobe Bryant: “The moment you give up is the moment you let someone else win.”

“Reflection builds growth. Rumination builds regret.”

Start with empathy, not advice. “That was tough. Want to talk or just chill for now?” goes a long way.

Model bounce-back behavior. Let your athlete see how you handle frustration or disappointment.

Celebrate effort recovery. Say, “I loved how you kept competing” instead of “We’ll get ’em next time.”

“Your calm becomes their confidence.”

Brené Brown: “Connection is the energy that exists between people when they feel seen, heard, and valued.”

Start your talk with ownership. “We all had moments we can grow from — including me.” That honesty opens ears.

Keep post-game brief. Save long lessons for tomorrow; right now, they need perspective, not overload.

Highlight effort streaks. Even in losses, find “wins within the loss” to anchor confidence.

“Teams that recover together, grow together.”

Pat Summitt: “Adversity is a part of life. We can’t control it, but we can control how we respond.”