Before You Move On: How to Recap the Season With Your Athlete

Before we start talking about what needs to improve next season, give your athlete a chance to recognize how much they grew this season. This is exactly what we’re doing during our lessons and instruction right now 360U. 

We have 5 questions you can ask your athletes at the end of their season to help them reflect, rebuild and reset as they head into new sports, new teams, and whatever else is next.

Their answers to these questions will uncover so much for us. And remember, their perception is their reality. So let’s bridge the gap between the two and help our kids work through the ups and downs this sport (and all sports) present!

1. What are you most proud of from this season?

   Not: “What was your best game?” This lets the athlete decide what success meant.

2. What was something hard that you handled better as the season went on?

   This answer can be stashed away and used in future situations to remind your athlete that they are resilient and able to do hard things!

3. What did you learn about yourself as an athlete?

   This is huge. This could uncover a ton about how they view their confidence, leadership, preparation, ability to handle pressure, etc. How your athlete views themself will shape how they approach the game (and life!).

4. What was your most fun part of the season?

   A simple reminder that youth sports are supposed to be fun, and this a way to show them that you think that, too. You might be surprised by what your athlete enjoyed the most. Their answer will keep this in perspective that this is their unique experience, and that their enjoyment playing this sport is the priority.

5. What are you excited to get better at next? 

   Not: “What do you need to work on?” That's a subtle but important difference. It moves them toward development from a positive place, and uses motivational language to remind them that working on their game is a part of the process, not a result of failure.

   
   

Don't rush from the final game directly into fixing what's next.

As parents and coaches who are genuinely invested in helping our athletes see growth and progress, it’s very natural for us to want to look towards what’s next. But let’s HOLD that thought for a second. If we have those conversations right now, right after season, athletes will not retain them. Although we may be thinking:

We have to get you stronger.

You need to throw harder.

You've got to be more confident.

We need to improve your batting average.

We need to remember they're kids (and yes, even our teenage athletes are just kids.)

Your athlete just spent months practicing, competing, failing, succeeding, adjusting, dealing with pressure and growing. So let’s give them a chance to recognize that growth first. Then, celebrate that growth with them.

We need the discipline as parents and coaches to recognize that their season was bigger than their GameChanger stats (good or bad). Those “numbers” tell a very small part of their story.

Batting Average

ERA

Fielding %

OBS %

Those are results that can drive your internal discussions as parents and coaches around where to put your time and resources this off-season, but those aren’t the recap points of your kid’s season. 

The best thing you can do for your athlete at the end of their season is be absolutely CERTAIN that they know and truly believe you are their #1 fan, and that you always have their back (because we recongize the real-ness of some kids' situations involving politics, unhealthy team cultures, negative coaches, and other factors that can be so harmful to an athlete's well-being). But once they trust that fact, they’ll receive your conversations, feedback and questions with open ears and an understanding that you care more about them as your kid, than them as a player. 

We are so lucky to be able to devout our lives to understanding these dynamics as we are immersed in them every day at 360UU. We are here to support YOU in your journey to support THEM. We want them to enjoy the sport, be great at the sport, and MOST importantly, reap all the benefits the sport has to give.

Lastly, 10,000ft view here. This game will only last 10-12 years (maybe) for most kids. Once that’s over, the real question we want to keep at the center of decision we make for them is this:

Who did they become because they played? 

We’ll be sharing more parent advice, drills and educational content for you right here at 360U all year long!