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They played poorly but won. The words that actually help them learn.

7 min read

An Australian parent walks beside their child away from a community football pitch after a game. The child looks reflective and slightly downcast despite the team having won. The parent's expression is steady, not speaking.

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The whistle goes. The score is two-one. The team won. Your kid played poorly. They had a bad first touch in the third minute, gave the ball away repeatedly, were caught out of position twice, and at one point sat down on the grass during a counter-attack. The team won despite their performance, not because of it. They are walking off the field knowing it.

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