Staff Posts
29 August 2025
Winning vs Growth in School Sport
Lwandiswa Zuma
Teacher-Intern (Economics) | Head Coach U/15A Cricket | Former Pro Cricketer
Having spent the past two years in an educational environment, following a career across five different professional teams, I’ve come to reflect deeply on the balance between winning and growth, particularly on the cricket field, though the principle applies broadly across all sports.
There is no denying the thrill and satisfaction of winning. No one competes with the intention of losing. Winning breeds confidence, drive, innovation, and consistency, traits we undoubtedly want to instill in young boys and girls. Encouraging a winning mindset is important, it helps shape young men and women who are resilient, focused, and committed.
In professional sport, however, winning is not just a value, it’s a currency. Your ability to win can determine your livelihood. Some have positively impacted their families’ futures through sustained success, while others, despite their efforts, have had to pivot away from the game after failing to deliver consistent results. At that level, roles can be rigidly defined. Some players may go a whole season without playing or only feature once or twice in a season, often without the necessary support or best quality of opportunity to perform. At times, it seemed like individuals were selected to “tick boxes” rather than to contribute meaningfully. I have lived both experiences.
In school sport, this should never be the case.
No child should feel like they were picked simply to make up the numbers. Every child selected should be given a meaningful role and the best possible opportunity to contribute. There is little worse than being on the field, watching your team win, while knowing your presence made no real difference. That is not inclusion. If a player is selected, they deserve a chance to impact the game. And if they fall short, that’s part of sport, an opportunity for growth, not exclusion.
At school level, we must never prioritise winning over a child’s development and well-being. Doing so reflects a “win at all costs” mentality, a mindset that I believe has no place in schoolboy sport. Winning matters, but it should never come at the expense of a child’s personal growth. After all, only 1% of these young kids will go on to play professionally. But 100% will go on to live life beyond the field. What we teach them through sport must serve their entire journey.
In my opinion, a truly excellent schoolboy coach, especially at the higher levels, is someone who can win while ensuring every player is given the best quality of opportunity. This approach satisfies both the competitive and developmental needs of each player in the team. It not only fuels results, but also fosters a sense of belonging, a critical human need that is correctly outlined in Maslow’s hierarchy.
Equally important, is the coach’s ability to turn moments of failure into opportunities for learning. Reacting with frustration or blame, particularly by shouting at players for “losing the game”, serves no purpose. Often, this stems from a bruised ego rather than a place of mentorship. School sport is not about the coach’s pride; it’s about the growth of the child. As difficult as it may be, the role of a coach is to manage their own emotions and be a steady, supportive presence, especially in challenging moments.
In conclusion, winning matters. We must advocate for excellence and competitiveness. But we must never pursue victory at the expense of two critical things:
1. The quality of opportunity each child receives.
2. The personal growth of every player.
If we get that balance right, we’re not just building better sportsmen/sportswomen, we’re building better people.
Lwandiswa Zuma