There comes a time in your child’s life when joining a sports team isn’t as simple as signing up and appearing at the games. As they get older and the stakes and level of competitiveness increases, skill and ability become more of a factor in their place on the team. For many kids and teens, there will come a time in their life where they will go out for a sport and, in the end, not make the cut. And while this can be upsetting for both the youth athlete and parent, it is not nearly as devastating as it may initially seem. In fact, getting cut from a team can be a blessing in disguise for a number of reasons.

It Develops Perseverance

There is nothing more disappointing than learning that your child was just a hair short of making a team that they tried out for. But, the hard truth is that even skill and ability may not be enough if the competition is fierce. This doesn’t mean that your child should give up and accept that their career in that specific sport is over. Instead, this defeat should make them that much more determined to practice and come back next time as an even stronger competitor.

In your free time, check out some local parks and other public facilities around your town or city. You may even have access to some great sports complexes you never even knew about. If not, your backyard or any open space will typically suffice. Play some catch, kick around a ball together or even have them run some laps to help with stamina. Every bit of practice can help increase your child’s chances of making the team.

If you don’t have the time to personally practice with your kid, research some other options around town or even within the school itself. Many schools have club levels of sports that are not nearly as competitive and typically don’t make any cuts. This can be a great opportunity to continue practicing and increase their skillset as you wait for the next tryout to roll around. These activities typically will also require much less of a time commitment, which will allow your child to focus more on their schoolwork or even explore other interests.

It Encourages Kids to Try New Things

Unfortunately, in some cases practicing may not improve your child’s abilities enough to get them on the team. For example, if they are 5”1’ and don’t have enough muscle to hit the ball over the net, volleyball might not be the sport for them. But for these children, it now means that they have the free time to explore a whole variety of other sports and activities.

As resistant as they may be, push your child to look into other what else their school may offer. Maybe they want to try another sport at a level where they don’t make cuts, or maybe they are interested in a club completely unrelated to athletics such as the theatre guild, math league, or a community service organization. Some schools will have upwards of 100 clubs and activities allowing your child to explore any interest they may have. They may even discover an unknown passion which they could keep with them for the rest of their lives.

Getting cut from a team is an unfortunate reality that many children and teens will have to face as they grow up. And while this can be discouraging, the outcome can be more positive than you would imagine. So next time your child comes home disappointed about not making the cut, there are two easy steps you should follow; (1) Console them and be a shoulder to cry out and (2) Encourage them to get back out there.