The Perfect .500 SeasonFrom a developmental standpoint, the perfect season is winning as many games as you lose. In the so-called ".500 season" players have enough success to be encouraged and enough loses to keep them challenged. A loss teaches us that we still have things to work on. It teaches us to adapt to different situations and learn new skills. In fact, we can learn more about our weaknesses from losing than from winning.
The coach should look at "a season" from a broad perspective. The season includes league play, scrimmages and tournaments. When analyzing your win-loss percentage (from a developmental standpoint) use all of these games. Even if you go 10 and O in your league, you may want to scrimmage against older or better teams. You may want to play in a difficult tournament with better teams. Only this way will your team be challenged. From a developmental standpoint it doesn't do much good to easily win game after game.
Likewise, if your team is struggling in your regular league play, set up scrimmages with younger teams or weaker teams. For the players a win is a win. Winning a game or two and having a tangible success, can bolster enthusiasm. If players don't have any successes they become frustrated (to say nothing about the parents and your own attitude).
In short, part of being a good coach is planning "a season" in which your team wins and loses.
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