How Should I Help My Child Handle Disappointments or Setbacks in Sports? by Sean Jensen Freelance Journalist at SportsEngine May 23, 2025 | 0 minutes, 27 seconds read This is the fourth article in our “Big Questions in Youth Sports” series. For many parents, there are pressing questions related to youth sports that they just can't find the right answers to. SportsEngine wanted to provide some insights from youth and high school coaches in different sports, from across the country, who have achieved success and earned a reputation for positively developing student-athletes in different sports. Here are some of their answers on how a parent or guardian can help a child deal with disappointments or setbacks in sports. About Sean Jensen Freelance Journalist at SportsEngine Sean K. Jensen was born in South Korea, but he was raised in California, Massachusetts and Virginia, mostly on or near military bases. Given his unique background, he's always been drawn to storytelling, a skill he developed at Northwestern University and crafted for 16 years as a reporter and columnist, almost exclusively covering the NFL. He’s now an inspirational speaker and author of The Middle School Rules, a book series that tells the defining moments of professional athletes. He is also the creator of Model Student Athlete, a video series for young athletes, and Winning Is Not Everything, a podcast that aims to “bring sanity back to youth sports” through conversations with high-character athletes, coaches, and parents. You can learn more about him at his website, SeanKJensen.com. Connect with Sean Jensen tags in this article Coach Issues & Advice Parent SportsEngine