How to Cope when Your Favorite Team Loses

Most of us have a favorite team that we embrace every sports season. We watch them on television or attend the event live decked out in our fanfare. We even decorate the house with flags or the kids with sweatshirts. We know we are true fans by stressing this point in many facets of our lives. The proud smile of the fan can come to a grinding halt as soon as the team loses. After experiencing defeat we seem to remain in a dour mood for the remainder of the day. The second day gets better and we are eventually brought back into the swing of things awaiting the next game with returned enthusiasm. One or two losses here and there are manageable for most fans, but having to endure a losing season is another story. There are ways to change your mood if you team is headed down a disastrous season.

Dress Rehearsal for next Year

If my team's season is shot, I like to find any kind of positives for the season that will benefit the succeeding year. In baseball this may mean following young prospects brought up to the major league team in August and September. If it is a college team you are following you may want to see some worthy play out of your backup quarterbacks or freshman and sophomore receivers. Take heart that you can at least look at the failed season as a "practice for next year".

Spoiler

It never fails to root for your team to act as spoiler to your nemesis team that may be on the cusp of having a tremendous season. You already show the scars of a losing season and losing to your rival just adds to the pain, though it can also create pleasure if your team pulls the upset.

Denial

Try to embrace your overall love of your team and keep the long term goals of winning it all in your mind. So what if it isn't going to happen this year. Tell yourself it may happen next year or within the next five years. Try to deny the pitiful season by avoiding contact with associates that may chide your team's failure. Exposure to such ridicule will only make matters worse. A little helping of denial can go a long way. If your team has a recent championship or two under the belt, take comfort in those particular recent accomplishments. Play old victory footage over and over to trick yourself into thinking your team were the victors.

Have defeat parties

So you and your group watched another team loss. Why not have a party or head out and mourn the loss over a game of pool and a few drinks? Treat the game and season as a time for your fanatical friends to band together and share the love or hate for the season. For Chicago Cub fans this can be a lot of defeat parties.