After the race Coaches or team captains should be aggressive about getting all team members to cool down after competition. Win or lose, you are a team. Stay together even though you may feel like dirt, even if one of your teammates has performed poorly and feels lousy. If an athlete has had a bad outing or made a tactical error, this is a good time for a coach to talk about the race and get some instant feedback. As a coach, I wanted my athletes to be aware of their errors and be aware that I recognized a poor effort or mental error.
Many mistakes are correctable.
Don t forget about your team. In the height of joy or the depths of disappointment, you may have fellow team members on the course running to the best of their abilities. Put yourself aside for a few minutes and go cheer on their efforts. Be at the finish line with a cup of water, a pat on the back or a high five. To be a real team, you cannot be self-centered.