Progress Over Perfection: What Athletes Really Need From Us

No coach — and no parent — gets it right 100% of the time. I know I haven’t. 

I’ve made mistakes as a player, a coach, and a business owner. Those moments didn’t define me — but they absolutely shaped how I coach today. In fact, many of the lessons I now teach with confidence came directly from situations where things didn’t go as planned. 

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is this: perfection creates pressure, but progress builds confidence. 

Athletes who believe they must be perfect to earn approval begin to play scared. They hesitate. They overthink. They stop trusting their instincts. Instead of competing freely, they play not to mess up — and that’s when performance and confidence both suffer. 

Progress, on the other hand, allows athletes to try, fail, adjust, and grow. Progress-focused athletes understand that mistakes are part of the process, not proof that they’re failing. Confidence grows when athletes feel safe enough to compete without fear of getting it wrong. 

Inside DR3 Fastpitch, we emphasize progress over perfection in everything we do. Mistakes are treated as information, not failure. Every rep, every bullpen, every game provides feedback that helps athletes improve. When athletes learn to reflect instead of criticize themselves, growth accelerates. 

As a Special Education teacher by training, I’ve seen how powerful this mindset can be. Learning doesn’t happen in a straight line. Neither does development in sports. Athletes need permission to be imperfect while they learn. When that permission is removed, confidence collapses under the weight of unrealistic expectations. 

Parents play a massive role in shaping this mindset. 

Post-game conversations matter more than most people realize. Questions like “Why did you do that?” or “What went wrong?” can unintentionally reinforce fear and self-doubt. On the other hand, asking “What did you learn today?” or “What felt better than last time?” keeps the focus on growth. 

Progress-based feedback protects confidence while still encouraging accountability. It allows athletes to stay motivated, curious, and engaged — even during tough seasons. 

Perfection-based environments create burnout. Progress-based environments create resilience. 

Inside DR3, we want athletes to understand that confidence isn’t about always performing well. It’s about trusting yourself through the ups and downs. It’s about knowing that one bad inning, one rough outing, or one tough season doesn’t define you. 

When athletes learn to value progress, they stay mentally strong. They become adaptable. They develop grit. And most importantly, they learn how to handle adversity — a skill that serves them far beyond the softball field. 

As parents and coaches, our job isn’t to eliminate mistakes. It’s to help athletes learn how to respond to them. When progress is celebrated over perfection, confidence has room to grow.