--- title: Failure in Sports description: My gut says that if you subscribe to our emails, then sports have played and continue to play a large role in your life. image: https://www.1stclasslax.com/hubfs/Blogs/FCL-Blog-men-1.jpg --- [Skip to the main content.](https://www.1stclasslax.com/blog/failure-in-sports#main-content) [![First Class Lacrosse, Deemer Class, Best In Class](https://www.1stclasslax.com/hs-fs/hubfs/2026%20Logo/Primary%20Logo%20with%20Trademark.png?width=990&height=660&name=Primary%20Logo%20with%20Trademark.png "First Class Lacrosse, Deemer Class, Best In Class")](https://www.1stclasslax.com/) [![First Class Lacrosse, Deemer Class, Best In Class](https://www.1stclasslax.com/hs-fs/hubfs/2026%20Logo/Primary%20Logo%20with%20Trademark.png?width=990&height=660&name=Primary%20Logo%20with%20Trademark.png "First Class Lacrosse, Deemer Class, Best In Class")](https://www.1stclasslax.com/) - [About Us](https://www.1stclasslax.com/about) - Events - Best In Class - [Winter 2026 Women's Committed](https://www.1stclasslax.com/best-in-class-committed-womens) - [Winter 2027 Men's & Women's Showcase](https://www.1stclasslax.com/best-in-class-winter) - [Summer 2027 Men's & Women's](https://www.1stclasslax.com/best-in-class) - [Summer 2027 BI3 Showcase Men's](https://www.1stclasslax.com/bi3) - [Summer 2027 Sixes Women's](https://www.1stclasslax.com/best-in-class-committed-sixes) - [Event Hotel Information](https://www.1stclasslax.com/best-in-class-hotels) - [High School Nationals](https://www.1stclasslax.com/high-school-nationals) - [Summer Camp](https://www.1stclasslax.com/summer-camp) - [Trainings](https://1stclasslax.sprocketsports.com/all-programs/category/1756) - [Athlete Program](https://www.1stclasslax.com/athlete-program) - [Coaches Membership](https://www.1stclasslax.com/coaches-membership-community) - [Media](https://www.1stclasslax.com/media) - [Shop](https://shop.1stclasslax.com/collections/all?utm_source=1stclasslax.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=merch) [Member Login](https://login.circle.so/sign_in?request_host=first-class-lacrosse.circle.so) [Support](https://www.1stclasslax.com/about/faqs) Toggle Menu Toggle Menu ![FirstClass-Logo-web\_7e1a2719-Aug-04-2022-06-00-10-36-PM](https://www.1stclasslax.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/FirstClass-Logo-web_7e1a2719-Aug-04-2022-06-00-10-36-PM.png?width=200&name=FirstClass-Logo-web_7e1a2719-Aug-04-2022-06-00-10-36-PM.png)   [Member Login](https://login.circle.so/sign_in?request_host=first-class-lacrosse.circle.so) [Support](https://www.1stclasslax.com/about/faqs) - [About Us](https://www.1stclasslax.com/about) - Events - Best In Class - [Winter 2026 Women's Committed](https://www.1stclasslax.com/best-in-class-committed-womens) - [Winter 2027 Men's & Women's Showcase](https://www.1stclasslax.com/best-in-class-winter) - [Summer 2027 Men's & Women's](https://www.1stclasslax.com/best-in-class) - [Summer 2027 BI3 Showcase Men's](https://www.1stclasslax.com/bi3) - [Summer 2027 Sixes Women's](https://www.1stclasslax.com/best-in-class-committed-sixes) - [Event Hotel Information](https://www.1stclasslax.com/best-in-class-hotels) - [High School Nationals](https://www.1stclasslax.com/high-school-nationals) - [Summer Camp](https://www.1stclasslax.com/summer-camp) - [Trainings](https://1stclasslax.sprocketsports.com/all-programs/category/1756) - [Athlete Program](https://www.1stclasslax.com/athlete-program) - [Coaches Membership](https://www.1stclasslax.com/coaches-membership-community) - [Media](https://www.1stclasslax.com/media) - [Shop](https://shop.1stclasslax.com/collections/all?utm_source=1stclasslax.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=merch) [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/firstclasslacrosse) [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/firstclasslacrosse/) [Linkedin](https://www.linkedin.com/company/first-class-lacrosse?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F) [X](https://twitter.com/firstclasslax_?s=20&t=E0teTtYfCs-3LdkMj5A7hw) [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@firstclasslax?sub_confirmation=1) [Tiktok](https://www.tiktok.com/@firstclasslacrosse) 2 min read # Failure in Sports [![Picture of Matt Dunn](https://www.1stclasslax.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blogs/Dunn%20Headshot.png?width=30&height=30&name=Dunn%20Headshot.png) Matt Dunn](https://www.1stclasslax.com/blog/author/matt-dunn-matt-dunn-graduated-from-the-university-of-maryland2016-and-is-currently-a-professional-lacrosse-playerboth-the-premier-lacrosse-league-pll-for-the-whipsnakes-lc-and) : Published May 12, 2023 Updated October 26, 2026 [Mental Performance](https://www.1stclasslax.com/blog/tag/mental-performance) ![First Class Lacrosse](https://www.1stclasslax.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blogs/FCL-Blog-men-1.jpg?width=1920&height=1080&name=FCL-Blog-men-1.jpg) My gut says that if you subscribe to our emails, then sports have played and continue to play a large role in your life. ## Failure in Sports This is certainly true for me. I loved playing sports growing up, and I love being involved in sports to this day. I love coaching. I love playing. I love training athletes. Overall, I just love being a part of a team, working towards a common goal, and growing in the process. I am interested in understanding and implementing the elements that lead to success both as a team and individual. As I've grown and made conscious decisions to choose a career surrounding athletics, I would often question what drove me to wanting to be around sports so much. At times it may have felt a bit childish to build a career around a game; however, the more time I spend in sports the more conviction I hold in the importance of athletics. Sports are about so much more than just the game on the field. We learn invaluable lessons through the dynamics in sport at an early age that are hard to embody elsewhere. We learn how to work with others towards a common goal. We learn how to take feedback. We learn the value of hard work and of putting the team before ourselves. We also learn how to put ourselves out there and go for something that we want knowing there is a risk of public failure.  Recently, Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo answered a reporter's question about whether their season was a failure after losing their series 4-1 to the Heat in the NBA playoffs. You can see his response here: > "There's no failure in sports. There's good days, bad days, some days you are able to be successful, some days you are not, some days it is your turn, some days it's not. That's what sports is about. You don't always win." > > Giannis comments on "failure" [pic.twitter.com/QxqkuSMP7b](https://t.co/QxqkuSMP7b) > > — NBA (@NBA) [April 27, 2023](https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1651579027906232320?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)   Personally, I love this message. I have lost more championships than I've won. If you define success solely as winning a championship, then the likelihood of "failure" is quite high. Only one team each year ends with a successful season by that standard, but that certainly does not mean the other teams are all failures. While winning is a great goal, it should not be the only barometer of success.  You can look to other indicators of a successful season like: - How has the team grown throughout the year? - What adversity have you overcome? - Did you achieve beyond your potential? - Are you able to learn from the season? Our competitive nature often drives us to think winning is everything, but there is so much more to sports than just that. Winning is one of the things, and still an important thing, but we become better teammates, partners, family members, friends, and ultimately better people through how we manage the ups and downs of a sport.  ### - Coach DUNN   ### Get Premium content for players, parents or coaches Check out our community and become a member to view drills, webinars, film breakdowns, courses and more. Use code*BLOG15 for an exclusive discount to our membership community on Circle!* **[Join Today 👉](https://www.1stclasslax.com/players-and-parents-membership-community)** - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) #### [Post Game Conversations](https://www.1stclasslax.com/blog/post-game-conversations) [![Picture of Deemer Class](https://www.1stclasslax.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blogs/Deemer%20Headshot.jpeg?width=30&name=Deemer%20Headshot.jpeg) Deemer Class](https://www.1stclasslax.com/blog/author/deemer-class-bornbaltimore-md-deemer-has-playedthe-highest-levels-of-the-game-professionally-division-1-and-the-most-elite-high-school-conferencethe-country-deemer-is-widely-r) : Nov 18, 2022, 1:10:38 PM As a player, have you ever gotten into the car after a game and the last thing you want to talk about is lacrosse? [Mental Performance](https://www.1stclasslax.com/blog/tag/mental-performance) [Read More](https://www.1stclasslax.com/blog/post-game-conversations) #### [Scanning](https://www.1stclasslax.com/blog/scanning) [![Picture of Deemer Class](https://www.1stclasslax.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blogs/Deemer%20Headshot.jpeg?width=30&name=Deemer%20Headshot.jpeg) Deemer Class](https://www.1stclasslax.com/blog/author/deemer-class-bornbaltimore-md-deemer-has-playedthe-highest-levels-of-the-game-professionally-division-1-and-the-most-elite-high-school-conferencethe-country-deemer-is-widely-r) : May 5, 2023, 8:30:00 AM Playing without the ball is something every offensive coach preaches. 5 out of 6 guys, and 6 out of 7 girls do not have the ball at any given time!... [Mental Performance](https://www.1stclasslax.com/blog/tag/mental-performance) [Read More](https://www.1stclasslax.com/blog/scanning) #### [Skill Development - Transferring Knowledge Into Execution](https://www.1stclasslax.com/blog/skill-development-transferring-knowledge-into-execution) [![Picture of Matt Dunn](https://www.1stclasslax.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blogs/Dunn%20Headshot.png?width=30&name=Dunn%20Headshot.png) Matt Dunn](https://www.1stclasslax.com/blog/author/matt-dunn-matt-dunn-graduated-from-the-university-of-maryland2016-and-is-currently-a-professional-lacrosse-playerboth-the-premier-lacrosse-league-pll-for-the-whipsnakes-lc-and) : Nov 4, 2022, 11:30:00 AM When I coach or work with players consistently I will from time to time “quiz them” on the concepts we have covered. 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