This is the big reason I have such strong feelings about pushing kids into a competitive space. Whether that’s sports, chess, marching band, etc. Just as long as there is structured practice and then competition against another person or team.
Because sports really will teach kids that no matter how hard you practice, sometimes you just won’t win. And that’s okay. The important thing isn’t winning every time, it’s getting back up and pushing even harder when you lose to win next time.
Its a critically important thing for people to learn, and I can’t think of a better and safer place than youth sports.
I’ve always had my lower limit for how young I’d date as “she has to be older than my brother”. But my brother is only 3 years younger than me so that’s becoming less and less relevant as he’s pushing into his mid 20s now haha