As local Little League seasons begin to wind down, it’s becoming more and more likely that kids are going to have to learn how to lose. More specifically how to lose with grace. Loss in sports, and in life, is inevitable. There is no avoiding it. But teaching children to lose with dignity, and with their heads held high, will benefit them throughout their lives. Because whether it’s in sports, the classroom, the office, or anywhere else, there is no way to make it in the world without losing at some point. Learning how to accept loss and defeat and learn from it is paramount to raising well-adjusted, functional adults.

When competing, some young athletes may have a hard time handling defeat. Even professional athletes routinely acknowledge how much they struggle after a loss. But there are ways coaches and parents can help young athletes cope with defeat.

Reward effort. The College of Education at Michigan State University recommends coaches and parents emphasize effort and allow athletes to bring up the outcome of a particular competition on their own. Encourage maximum effort during competition and spend time after the game discussing with athletes how they performed and the effort they gave. Remind them that their best effort is all anyone can ask for, shifting focus from a loss to the effort they gave.

Communicate privately if effort is lacking. Parents and coaches who feel their child or player did not give maximum effort can communicate those feelings privately without putting the athlete down. Emphasize that the next game is a great chance to do better and give full effort. In other words, don’t be behind the fence, or on a sideline screaming at your child about what you think they are doing wrong. Not only is it unhelpful in the moment, but there’s also no reason to let your whole community know you are a crazypants. Support them in public and give them constructive criticism in private.

Encourage a healthy perspective. The COE at MSU also urges parents and coaches to encourage young athletes to keep a healthy perspective on their participation in sports. Encourage kids not to sacrifice other aspects of their life, such as academics and their social life, to improve their athletic performance. When young athletes focus too heavily on a sport, that can create an unhealthy situation that makes it that much harder to cope with defeat in a positive way.

Let’s face it, in the grand scheme of things, there is a very small chance (not zero, but let’s be real here) that you are raising the next NBA first round pick, or MLB rookie of the year. Playing sports is great for kids, but not to the detriment of their education or social skills. Besides, even if you are raising the next Ronald Acuna Jr., they still need to know how to function as a well-socialized adult off the field. Making sure your student-athlete understands that there’s more to life than just sports, and that they’re more than just athletes, makes it easier to handle defeat.

The value of athletic competition for children who like to play sports is undeniable. Though not all kids will want to play sports, those who enjoy competing in organized athletics can benefit in myriad ways.

Many successful athletes insist they learn more from defeat than they do from victory. Helping young athletes cope with loss healthily can benefit them throughout their lives.