Alright meat head tough guy. Let’s see if we can break this down for you. I know it’s probably pointless since you react like a wet cat to the idea there is wrestling knowledge you wouldn’t know..
Of course losing isn’t fun. Of course winning helps. That doesn’t mean you can’t create an environment where working hard and training and improving is fun.. also providing kids a place where they belong and something to believe in also helps. Some quit regardless, but less than you’d think if you create the right environment.
If you were “correct” about your attitude about this. I wouldn’t have a team or any retention.. I wouldn’t have had every returning wrestler, at minimum.. triple their wins from last year to this year. I wouldn’t have had the entire team fighting and arguing over who should get the most improved award to the point that I almost had fights between kids..
And I’m not self aggrandizing either. There’s plenty of coaches doing better than me doing the same thing. Especially because I don’t pattycake my schedule and throw out first year kids against high level competition rather than forfeit... and I’m not exactly the best at “sandwiching” my positive to negative comments… I’ve actually been told I’m too intense by some very intense big names.
Of course winning helps keep kids. But maybe you should try to process the fact that what made wrestling fun for you isn’t the end all be all. and maybe you should realize not having your attitude also doesn’t mean that we’re giving participation trophies either