Over the weekend I witnessed athletes play through adversity.

My oldest son’s basketball team lost four games against very talented, very organized, and very aggressive teams from the Lower Mainland. (The last game was close, though!).

Observing the games as a parent and coach, I noticed that playing through adversity revealed and expanded the boys’ character. Some persevered with grit. There were also some crossed-arms and sad faces. There was a bit of toxic positivity. And there was a lot of resilience. The team bounced back from a crushing defeat with their best game of the season. In this case, playing through adversity happened after the hard, impossible struggle because the kids needed some time to recharge, reflect, and connect to bounce back.

Later that day, my son and I watched Vancouver Whitecaps FC draw LAFC in one of the most egregiously refereed and shamelessly played football matches I’ve seen in a while.

At 14:30 of this video, you will see a spectacular dive – or “cheating” – from Sergai Palencia of LAFC captures how the visiting team chose to play.

The Whitecaps played through adversity by not letting their opponent’s behaviour undermine their focus or commitment to playing as a team. They moved the ball and shared the effort, as opposed to outdueling Palencia or another player who got the better of them with a dive or slowing down the game’s pace by arguing with the referee.

When teams maintain composure and commitment to collective success while under pressure they are more likely to play through adversity and win.