The Art of the Comeback

For a youth sports coach, motivation is key. And when your team faces a seemingly insurmountable deficit, motivation is even more important. Falling behind in games can be a difficult thing to overcome, as players give up and the situation appears hopeless. But it is still essential to get your young athletes to give forth their best effort. 

Coming from behind goes beyond winning and losing. It doesn’t matter if the effort ultimately falls short - it shows perseverance, dedication and heart. Those are traits any coach and parent should look to instill in their kids, and they can make up for a huge gap in ability. Here are a few ways to remind your kids that the game isn’t over until the final buzzer.

All of the great comebacks in sports history

Sports are replete with comeback stories, from Kentucky men’s basketball rallying from a 31-point deficit to win in the final 15 minutes to the 2004 Boston Red Sox overcoming a 3-0 series hole against the rival New York Yankees. Remind your team of those stories - make them believe that they can win. Sometimes, a little confidence can go a long way.

There is nothing to lose

When your group is in a major hole, it might just help to let them know that it can’t possibly get worse. Losing by 20 is no different than losing by 40 - but cutting a 20-point game to 10, 5, or 2 is reason for celebration. You can take moral victories knowing your team overcame a devastating point differential to make a game out of it.

Take small steps

It is too much to ask for a game-winning play when your team is down by 30 points - such a play doesn’t even exist. Instead, focus on taking incremental steps toward bridging that gap. It won’t come all at once. Most sports are a game of momentum - you want to swing that pendulum back in your team’s direction. By taking your time, focusing on execution, and sticking to the game plan, your young athletes can make up a large deficit little by little.

Sports team websites like to use sayings like “It ain’t over ‘til it’s over” and “leave it all on the court.” They seem tired, but they carry the truth - anything can happen, and a big gap is no reason to give up.