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They played great but lost. Here's what to say in the next two minutes.

4 min read

An Australian parent crouches beside their child at the edge of a community football pitch after the final whistle, looking at the kid at eye level and speaking quietly. The kid's expression is somewhere between proud and disappointed.

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They played great. The team lost. Your kid is somewhere between proud of their own performance and gutted about the result. The first two minutes after the final whistle decide how the kid processes the next twenty-four hours.

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