What a 0-6, 0-6 Really Means- From a Parents Perspective

 

There is one score that scares many children — and many parents: 0-6, 0-6.

 

When we see it, the conclusions often come quickly: “They didn’t play.” “They weren’t ready.” “They’re not good enough.” But when you stand next to the court as a parent, the truth is often very different. There are matches where a child plays their best tennis. They fight for every ball. They follow the plan. They stay present. And still, the scoreboard doesn’t reflect any of it. Sometimes the opponent is simply stronger — more mature, more experienced, or just having one of those days when everything goes in. For a child, however, 6–0, 6–0 can feel final. It can quickly turn into thoughts like: “I’m not good.” “I didn’t train enough.” “Why even try?” And this is where, I believe, our role as parents becomes crucial. Our job is not to explain the score away. Not to minimize the pain. But to separate the score from the game. To separate: effort from result performance from self-worth growth from numbers on a scoreboard Some losses teach lessons that certain wins never will. They teach resilience. Perspective. Patience. And the understanding that progress isn’t always visible in a single match. I’m curious — how did you experience the first 6–0, 6–0 your child went through? What was harder: the score itself, your child’s reaction, or what you felt as a parent standing there?