Q: Is winning important?

A: Winning is as important as you make it. If you are already making your living as a professional soccer player in the MLS or WUSA, winning will probably determine how long you are employed. However, as a youth athlete in SAYSO, "winning" shouldn't be very high on your priority list. Winning is a "sometimes" end-result of doing something that you enjoy - playing soccer, in this case. Winning is not the activity, nor should it be a "need" for you or your parents. We don't play to win, because we don't need to. We play to enjoy ourselves. Good coaches know this and will encourage you even when your team loses a game. Sure, coaches love to win. But, good coaches are motivated and rewarded more by seeing you improve in your skills and tactics, grow in maturity, and learn to love the game.