Why Mistakes Matter More Than Instructions →

One of the hardest things for parents and coaches is watching kids make mistakes.
Our instinct is to step in, correct, and protect.

But mistakes are not the problem.
They are the pathway.

This is how we all learn.

Think about something simple like touching a hot surface.
We know it burns because at some point we experienced it. That moment changed how we responded next time. The lesson stayed with us because it was real.

The same thing happens in sport.

A child might take on a bigger opponent and lose the ball.
Try a risky pass and get intercepted.
Misjudge a moment and make the wrong decision.

That moment is their “hot surface.”
The feedback is immediate. And if we give them space, they will search for a better solution next time.

But too often, adults interrupt the learning loop.

We jump in.
We instruct.
We correct mid-moment.

And in doing so, we stop the process of:
Experience → Reflect → Adapt.

This loop builds confidence, decision-making, and independence.

Yes, coaching matters. But our role is not to make decisions for children.
Our role is to guide through showing pictures, questions, conversations, and reflection.

Allow the messy moments.
Allow the discomfort.
Allow the mistakes.

Because that is where real learning lives.