Competing With Joy: Why It Matters More Than the Score

The start of a season often comes with a rush of goals: win more, score higher, qualify, advance. For athletes and coaches alike, the focus can quickly narrow to the scoreboard.

But here’s the truth: the scoreboard can never tell your whole story.

The real magic of sport lives in the everyday moments: the small connections, the breakthroughs at practice, the feeling of doing what you love with people who matter. When we measure ourselves only by wins and stats, we miss out on the joy of the journey.

---

Why Joy Matters

Research shows that athletes who experience more joy in their sport:

• Perform with greater confidence and resilience
• Stay more consistent in training
• Experience less burnout and anxiety
• Build stronger team connections

Joy isn’t fluff. It’s fuel.

When athletes are motivated by love — rather than fear of failure — they can perform with freedom instead of pressure.

---

(Re)Connect With Joy

If you’re feeling weighed down by expectations, try these steps to bring joy back into your performance:

1. Remember Your “Why”

Think back to the first time you fell in love with your sport. What lit you up? Revisit that memory often, it’s your anchor.

2. Celebrate Even the Small Wins

Don’t wait for the championship to feel proud. Celebrate the moments you show courage, push past doubt, or support a teammate.

3. Notice What Feels Good

Pay attention to the sensations you love, like the rhythm of your stride, the sound of the ball, the feeling of flow. These are joy’s reminders.

4. Share the Journey

Joy multiplies in community. Talk with teammates about what makes the sport meaningful to them. Coaches, invite athletes to reflect together on what they love about playing.

---

For Coaches: Creating Joyful Environments

As a coach, you hold the power to help athletes reconnect with joy. A few ways to do this:

• Highlight effort and growth, not just stats
• Celebrate resilience after setbacks
• Create space for laughter and connection at practice
• Model your own joy — let athletes see that you love being there, too

Athletes who play from joy often bring out their best — not just for themselves, but for the whole team.

---

Final Thought

Wins and losses fade, but joy carries forward. The moments of connection, the sense of belonging, the deep love of the game…those are the memories that last a lifetime.

So this season, ask yourself:

How can I bring joy into the way I play, coach, and show up — right now, in this moment?

---

If you’d like weekly tools and reflections on building joy, resilience, and purpose into your journey, subscribe below to Athlete Illuminated and join our community!

In solidarity,
Laura

---

Reflection Prompts

Take a few minutes after practice, a game, or even during a quiet moment to reflect:

1. What moments in my sport bring me the most joy?
2. How can I create more of those moments this season?
3. When I think back years from now, what do I want to remember most?

---

Note: This and every Athlete Illuminated post is for educational purposes only and not a replacement for mental health treatment. If you are in urgent need of mental health support, please call 9-8-8. If you are experiencing an emergency, please call 9-1-1 or go to your nearest emergency room. For ongoing mental health concerns, consider seeking professional support or therapy.