Friday Fuel - 6 June

Hey Game Changers! 👋

Every youth athlete eventually hits a wall:

• They get cut from the team.
  

• They have a shocker of a game.
  

• They lose a final after giving it everything.
  

Disappointment stings. And for young athletes still forming their identity, it can feel like the end of the world.

But here’s the truth:

💥 It’s not the fall that defines them — it’s how they rise.

This week, we’re talking about:
🧠 What disappointment does to a young athlete’s mindset
💡 How to support them through it
🔁 Why learning to bounce back is one of the most important skills in sport and life

WHAT DISAPPOINTMENT REALLY DOES

When things go wrong, kids can spiral into:

• “I’m not good enough.”
  

• “I’ve let everyone down.”
  

• “What’s the point in trying?”
  

Disappointment, left unchecked, can lead to:
🚨 Loss of confidence
🚨 Avoidance of future challenges
🚨 Shrinking identity — “Maybe I’m just not an athlete.”

Quote

“I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games.
26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed.
I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”
— Michael Jordan

BUT HERE’S THE GOOD NEWS

Resilience isn’t just something kids “have or don’t.”
It’s something they can learn — with the right guidance.

Let’s teach them how to turn disappointment into growth.

“Champions keep playing until they get it right.”
— Billie Jean King

To learn more about fostering resilience in young athletes check out this post below from Wayne Goldsmith - international sports coaching expert.

SUPPORTING YOUR ATHLETE THROUGH A SETBACK

As a mum of two teenagers, I know how tough this is.

Letting them feel the sting of disappointment — missing the goal, bombing the test, being left off the team list — it’s heartbreaking.
Everything in me wants to rush in with reassurance, to fix it, to protect them from the pain. Because seeing your child hurt? That hits deep.

But I’ve learned that jumping in too soon can take something important away from them: the chance to feel it and grow through it.

Letting them sit in that space — with love and support nearby — is where resilience begins.

And honestly? It's really hard.
And for me, it's still a work in progress.
Some days I get it right — I pause, I listen, I let them process.
Other days? I blurt out the pep talk before they've even caught their breath.
But I’m learning, just like they are.

If you're a parent who's ever sat quietly beside your child as they cried into their hoodie or slammed a bedroom door, know this: you're not alone.
You’re doing the hard, necessary work of raising a human who can cope, adapt, and rise.

Here are a few things that can help:

✅ Let them feel it.
We don’t need to rush in with “It’s not that bad” or “At least you tried.”
Let them cry, sulk, or vent. Disappointment is real and valid.

✅ Ask reflective questions.
Not right away, but when they’re ready:
– “What do you think went wrong?”
– “What did you learn about yourself?”
– “What will you do differently next time?”

✅ Highlight the effort, not just the outcome.
“You showed up. You trained hard. That still counts.”
They need to hear their effort still matters, even when it doesn’t result in a win.

✅ Share your own flops.
Remind them that failure is universal — and temporary.
A quick story from your own childhood misstep? Gold.

✅ Help them zoom out.
“This is one moment in a much bigger journey.”
Perspective shrinks pain and reignites possibility.

“You have to believe in yourself when no one else does — that makes you a winner right there.”
— Venus Williams

👉 If you’ve ever wondered whether your support is helping or hindering your athlete’s growth, this is a must-read.

🎥 Athlete Spotlight: Giannis Antetokounmpo on Redefining Failure

Each week before we hit “send” on the newsletter, Ben and I read over what the other has written. We take turns writing — sometimes it’s my voice, sometimes his — but there’s always a bit of back-and-forth, some edits, and a lot of laughter behind the scenes.

This week, while I was researching clips for this edition, I stumbled across the video below and thought, “Wow — this message is powerful.”
It felt so aligned with everything we want young athletes and their families to understand about setbacks, growth, and the real meaning of success.

So, naturally, I messaged Ben to say, “Not sure if he’s any good at basketball lol,” and the reply speaks for itself...
(See screenshots below 😅)

Turns out, the clip I found is from NBA superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, and it’s gold.

In a powerful postgame interview, Giannis offers a fresh and inspiring take on what many see as “failure.” When asked if the Milwaukee Bucks’ season was a failure, he responded:

What makes this clip so impactful is the mindset shift it models for youth athletes:
Every moment — win or lose — is part of the process of growing and progressing.

This is exactly the kind of framing that helps kids bounce back from disappointment and stay motivated over the long run. If you're a parent or coach trying to nurture resilience in young athletes, this is a must-watch.

(And yes — I now know he’s pretty good at basketball 😅)

🎧 New Episode: The Truth Behind High Performance – Katie’s Story

We’re excited to share our latest podcast episode featuring former elite cyclist and sports nutritionist Katie Schofield.

From her early days in youth sport to the grit it took to overcome injuries, setbacks, a change of sport, and chronic energy deficiency (Red-S), Katie shares what it truly took to represent New Zealand on the world stage.

She opens up about the highs, the lows, and her personal journey from athlete to expert in elite sports nutrition.

🙌 Huge thanks to everyone who sent in questions — Katie was so impressed, she's coming back soon for a full Q&A episode!

🎙 Don’t miss this inspiring and deeply honest conversation.

And for those who would rather listen to a podcast than watch it - click this link

💬 FINAL THOUGHT

Every athlete stumbles.
What matters is what comes next.

Let’s raise kids who don’t fear failure — they learn from it.
Let’s raise kids who don’t crumble — they bounce.

“It’s not whether you get knocked down. It’s whether you get up.”
— Vince Lombardi

The loss? Not the end.
The bounce back? That’s the real win.

💬 Here’s to raising kids who turn disappointment into drive.

Billinda + Ben  

🎙️ The Game Changer | FYA (Fueling Youth Athletes)