{"id":11068,"date":"2024-04-18T12:53:17","date_gmt":"2024-04-18T16:53:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/?p=11068"},"modified":"2025-07-07T08:36:23","modified_gmt":"2025-07-07T12:36:23","slug":"helping-athletes-close-out-the-game-when-ahead","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/helping-athletes-close-out-the-game-when-ahead\/","title":{"rendered":"Helping Athletes Close Out the Game When Ahead"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/closing-a-game.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/closing-a-game.jpg\" alt=\"Helping Athletes Close Out the Game When Ahead\" class=\"wp-image-11069\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/closing-a-game.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/closing-a-game-300x150.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Does_a_30-point_lead_at_half-time_of_a_basketball_game_ensure_victory\"><\/span>Does a 30-point lead at half-time of a basketball game ensure victory?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 ez-toc-wrap-center counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/helping-athletes-close-out-the-game-when-ahead\/#Does_a_30-point_lead_at_half-time_of_a_basketball_game_ensure_victory\" >Does a 30-point lead at half-time of a basketball game ensure victory?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/helping-athletes-close-out-the-game-when-ahead\/#Of_course_embarrassing_an_opponent_should_never_be_the_goal_but_letting_up_in_a_competition_has_two_potential_trappings\" >Of course, embarrassing an opponent should never be the goal, but letting up in a competition has two potential trappings:<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/helping-athletes-close-out-the-game-when-ahead\/#Celtics_center_Kristaps_Porzingis_commented_that_the_Celtics_mentally_allowed_the_game_to_slip_away\" >Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis commented that the Celtics mentally allowed the game to slip away.<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/helping-athletes-close-out-the-game-when-ahead\/#Related_Kids_Sports_Psychology_Articles\" >Related Kids Sports Psychology Articles:<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/helping-athletes-close-out-the-game-when-ahead\/#Helping_Perfectionist_Young_Athletes\" >Helping Perfectionist Young Athletes<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<p>Will a 3-goal lead in a soccer match with 10 minutes remaining guarantee victory?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Is it even possible that a golfer with a 5-stroke <strong>lead<\/strong> heading into the last two holes of a tournament can <strong>lose<\/strong>?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There have been countless historic collapses in sports when teams had seemingly insurmountable <strong>leads<\/strong> yet found themselves on the <strong>losing<\/strong> end when the final buzzer sounded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can probably think of a competition in your child\u2019s sport when a team collapsed after having a significant <strong>lead<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You may have noticed that the team made more uncharacteristic mistakes, played with less enthusiasm, had lapses in concentration, made bad decisions, communicated poorly with teammates and lacked energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, when is it safe for youth sports teams to coast when they have the <strong>lead<\/strong>? The short answer is <strong>NEVER<\/strong>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Of_course_embarrassing_an_opponent_should_never_be_the_goal_but_letting_up_in_a_competition_has_two_potential_trappings\"><\/span>Of course, embarrassing an opponent should never be the goal, but letting up in a competition has two potential trappings:<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Young athletes might allow the opposing team back into the competition and even suffer a comeback <strong>loss<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>This can create bad habits. When sports kids take their foot off the gas, it may detract from peak performance habits, such as focusing, maximizing effort and honing a <strong>closeout<\/strong> <strong>mindset<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>When young athletes allow the mental game to get away from them, their physical game will follow suit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Closing<\/strong> <strong>out<\/strong> a game requires finishing strong. Finishing strong should always be the objective of a competition, even if your child\u2019s team is ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In a 2024 midseason matchup between the Boston Celtics and Atlanta Hawks, the Hawks trailed 68-38 with 4:23 remaining in the second quarter. A 30-point lead in an NBA game \u201cfeels\u201d like a victory is imminent.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, the Celtics took their foot off the gas and were outscored 82-50 from that point, leading to a historic collapse and a 120-118 loss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Celtics_center_Kristaps_Porzingis_commented_that_the_Celtics_mentally_allowed_the_game_to_slip_away\"><\/span>Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis commented that the Celtics mentally allowed the game to slip away.<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cMaybe too much (confidence) a little bit, maybe we need to sometimes have a little bit more urgency,\u201d said Porzingi.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cBut of course, we\u2019re a confident team because of what we have shown, and we expect to win every game. It\u2019s a slip-up for us, letting this game slip out of our hands\u2026&#8221;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;We just don\u2019t want to make it a <strong>habit<\/strong>, and it hasn\u2019t been a habit for us. We slipped one game, and we did relax a little bit and we paid the price.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In sports, the body follows the mind. If kids focus on the wrong cues, they will make more mistakes. If they assume they will win before the game is over, they will give less effort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Maintaining the right mindset throughout a competition is crucial for athletes\u2019 success and consistency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Remind sports kids that habits are the sum of their choices and actions. To have a closeout mindset in pressure situations, they need to build that mindset at every opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Kids should stay aggressive and continue to go for their plays. They shouldn\u2019t wait for their opponents to make mistakes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-dots\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"related-articles-on-hockey-mental-game\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Related_Kids_Sports_Psychology_Articles\"><\/span>Related Kids Sports Psychology Articles:<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/tips-for-playing-under-pressure\/\"><strong>Tips for Playing Under Pressure<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/playing-through-adversity\/\"><strong>Playing Through Adversity<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/when-athletes-only-dwell-on-post-game-mistakes\/\"><strong>When Athletes Only Dwell on Post Game Mistakes<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"block-f49818fa-7c7a-4ee3-b5ee-66581aad2c71\">*Subscribe to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/sports-psychology-podcast-by-peaksports-com\/id152566009\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>The Sports Psychology Podcast<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0on iTunes<br>*Subscribe to <a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/0ynyaalKxbnNmsoeL8gF5X?si=8224669de9b3435b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>The Sports Psychology Podcast<\/strong><\/a> on Spotify<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity is-style-dots\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Helping_Perfectionist_Young_Athletes\"><\/span>Helping Perfectionist Young Athletes<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Now, you can learn how to help young athletes&nbsp;<strong>overcome the difficult cycle of perfectionism<\/strong>, fear of failure and loss of confidence. You can stop guessing about what to do and say to your athlete!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As an active sports mom and parenting author, I\u2019ve asked my brother, a&nbsp;<strong>sports psychology expert&nbsp;<\/strong>who had helped his students with these same challenges for over 15 years, to help me develop a program for young athletes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Our program: \u201c<em><strong>Sports Parents\u2019 Top Dilemma: Helping Young Athletes Kick Perfectionism and Fear of Failure,<\/strong><\/em>\u201d will walk you through the problem and arm you with practical solutions you can start implementing today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019ll start seeing changes in your young athlete\u2019s confidence almost immediately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-16018d1d wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-text-align-center wp-element-button\">Get Details<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Does a 30-point lead at half-time of a basketball game ensure victory? Will a 3-goal lead in a soccer match with 10 minutes remaining guarantee victory? Is it even possible that a golfer with a 5-stroke lead heading into the last two holes of a tournament can lose? There have &#8230; <a title=\"Helping Athletes Close Out the Game When Ahead\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/helping-athletes-close-out-the-game-when-ahead\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Helping Athletes Close Out the Game When Ahead\">Read Sport Psychology Tip<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":11070,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[667,310,668,301],"class_list":["post-11068","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-youth-sports-psychology-blog","tag-closing-out-a-game","tag-focus-in-youth-sports","tag-mindset","tag-pressure-in-youth-sports"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11068","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11068"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11068\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11070"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11068"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11068"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.youthsportspsychology.com\/youth_sports_psychology_blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11068"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}