Gregory Butz, a vice president and managing director from Glenview, IL, discusses the emotional impact of defeat on young athletes and the importance of parental support. He emphasizes that rather than offering platitudes, parents should show compassion and empathy by acknowledging their child's feelings and guiding them through reflection on their experiences. This approach helps children cope with disappointment more effectively.

1. By Gregory Butz, Glenview IL

2. Introduction
 In his professional life, Gregory Butz of Glenview, IL, leads
as vice president and managing director of Wire Stone. A
resident of Glenview’s Saratoga Lane area, Gregory Butz
also maintains a busy personal life that includes being a
father to two athletic boys.
For the young athlete, defeat can be an extremely painful
experience. Many parents, seeing their child's distress,
attempt to soothe them by saying that it's only a game, or
that they did well regardless of outcome. Experts warn,
however, that these platitudes can minimize a young
athlete's distress and make them feel worse. Simple
compassion and a tuning in to the child's feelings can go
much further.

3. Losing a Game
 Parents can show compassion by recognizing that
tears and downtrodden expressions show that the
child genuinely feels upset about what has happened.
Parents can respond kindly by expressing sympathy--a
simple “I'm sorry. I know you tried,” can show a child
that the speaker understands how badly he or she
feels. Once the child is ready to talk, the parent can
guide them toward gentle reflection by asking what
part of the game was the most or least enjoyable, what
he or she did best, and whether the child is happy with
the effort that he or she put forth.