At Aliso Niguel High School, the Wolverines play with pride. Every player on the team puts in their all, they train hard and stay consistent, not just for themselves but also for their teammates.
In many school gyms and locker rooms, the phrase “Let’s win” is found everywhere. Almost every player and coach wants to win their game. But if winning becomes a team’s only focus and becomes a measure of talent and success, does it take away from the game?
For many athletes, the pressure to win isn’t just at the games. It stays with them even after the game. On social media, late nights or self-doubt after tough games, the fact of winning or losing sticks with them. While the scoreboard may just tell one side of the story, the other side that the athletes face often doesn’t come to light.
The pressure of winning isn’t just the physical strain; it’s also the mental struggle. The constant fact is that everyone around you has their own expectations for you. These expectations from coaches, parents and peers can all take a harsh toll on an athlete’s mental health.
Many players in high school feel extremely nervous about losing and not being able to achieve their goals.
Aiden Sidenstecker (10) says, “When winning becomes the only focus, I feel much more pressure than motivation.”
When winning is the only focus, the fun in sports disappears. The sole reason most athletes started playing the game is buried beneath the pressure of performance. Practices can start to feel like chores and games, a test of an athlete’s whole character.
The mental strain of chasing wins can also affect the team dynamic. When players have individual pressure to perform, a team’s communication can fully break down. In some cases, teammates may start to stop trusting each other and may take their anger and frustration out on each other.
The mindset of winning also doesn’t just hurt morale; it can negatively affect performance, too. When teams or athletes are extremely anxious, they tend to make many more mistakes than those who are confident and come into the game with an open mind. When players stop obsessing over results, they end up performing their best.
Many schools have also started to take a look at mental health in sports. Coaches emphasize to athletes to take rest days and communicate with them when they feel overworked, and always encourage remembering the original reason they started playing.
In the end, victories are forgotten, and the lessons are the real things that stick with people. Sports are about learning how to overcome challenges, get along with others and stay strong when things don’t go according to plan.
When winning is a person’s only goal, they lose sight of what makes the game appealing. When a player remembers the reason they started, they always perform their best.
