Therefore it is not necessary to keep score during a game. It is a good idea to keep stats for the sake of the individual goals of each athlete. Goals play a major part in motivation when the emphasis is not on beating someone else, but in beating yourself. Coaches, parents should encourage their children to set high yet achievable individual goals for themselves. Children should have clearly defined goals to work for and learn, and they deserve to be intimately involved in establishing these goals.
Individual goals are much more effective than group or team goals.
They allow each athlete to know exactly what needs to be accomplished. These goals help measure the effort that the children are putting into the game as they strive to improve and try to reach these goals. Instead of keeping score and deciding who wins or loses, the children are measured by the success of reaching their goals. When these goals are met, children can celebrate and be proud of their game. Success for an athlete must be seen in terms of exceeding personal goals rather than surpassing the performance of others.