Losing or winning a li'l bit

We were playing racquetball today. The rules are simple - if Adi hits and I can’t catch the ball, he wins. That part is easy. 

But if Adi can’t hit or if he hits and I catch the ball, he says he has not ‘lost’. He says ‘he won a li’l bit’. 

And this time around....I understand. You never lose. You either win big or you win a li’l bit. Till you are in the game, where is the losing? Losing is only when you quit!!