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What to Do?
Children who are in the midst of a meltdown should be taken aside by a parent. Perhaps, she can walk around a neighboring soccer field while discussing the reasons she’s upset until she's calm enough to return. Was it a missed call by a referee that has her outraged, or her inability to score in the final minutes when her team needed her?
Listen to your child and alleviate her fears in whatever way makes sense for your situation. The referee may have had a different vantage point than your daughter. Missed last-minute goals can easily be explained by the surge in adrenaline caused by high-pressure situations.
And remember, Ettinger says, even in a highly competitive environment, valuable lessons can be learned from losing. If you don't make mistakes, how will you know what to do better?
