I Lost the Game!

Losing is hard. Learning how to handle it is a skill.

Rory Raccoon loves soccer, his teammates, and game day. But there's one thing Rory really doesn't love: losing.

When a close game ends with the other team on top, Rory's disappointment quickly turns into anger. With help from Coach Bea, he learns that being a good sport doesn't mean pretending not to care. It means learning what to do when those big feelings show up.

I Lost the Game! is a social-emotional learning story that helps kids practice practical emotional skills, including:

• noticing the physical signs of big feelings
• naming disappointment and anger
• calming the body before reacting
• checking whether an upsetting thought is actually true
• separating "I lost" from "I'm a loser"
• focusing on what they can control
• choosing respectful behavior even while disappointed

More than a story: the book also includes The Rory Reset, a practical Parent & Coach Guide, helpful phrases adults can use after a difficult loss, and discussion questions for practicing these skills when emotions are calm.

Designed for young athletes and competitive kids working on frustration tolerance, resilience, emotional regulation, and healthy sportsmanship.

Because kids don't need to stop caring about winning. They need the skills to handle what happens when they don't.