wet dog

Little Peter Jenkins was not bullied, nor his friends not like him, in fact, he was well liked my most kids in his 5th grade class, and also by the older 6th and 7th graders too. His older brother John, was a star basketball, football and baseball player in the much more experienced 9th grade. Peter had talent, he was just small, but Peter’s real problem was he was always picked last to join a game of kickball for the 3rd period recess, and the long break before the lunch hour and the 30 minute break before biology later in the day.

So Peter devised a plan.

When two of the bigger, stronger, more adapt school boys broke out for the daily kickball game and summarily began to pick players, Peter decided to throw a wrench into the well lubricated machinery that is evident by the predictable behavior of most 5th grade boys at school.

What Peter did, shocked everyone – he opted out of the last position and made a position for himself. He did this not selfishly, but by careful design with goals and rewards for all those who also chose to follow Peter down the long line of “selection”.

What Peter did was announce the “third option”. He announced his intentions to create a new team, drafting the best players to attend a selection course, “try outs” to determine who would be on the team, rather than wait for the coin toss on who was going to begin the drafting sequence. Peter felt the institutional traditions of the campus withheld raw talent from stepping forward. Something had to give, and Peter saw an opportunity.

“Hey fellas, I’m not playing kickball today. Starting Monday, I’ll be conducting a series of tests to see who the fastest runners, the strongest kickers are and most adapt at catching high kicked balls to the infield and outfield.

Candidates selected to join the team, 8 positions open, will be invited to a team house meeting to receive further instructions and receive their benefit and compensation packets for participating in the “selection” process and also an invitation to be part of the “new team”.

Monday morning was anticipated with much excitement. Boys all over the neighborhood practiced all weekend long for the upcoming “selection” event. Throws, kicks, runs, stopping, base stealing, nothing was missed. Everyone waited for Peter’s arrival at the first recess of the morning. By late afternoon, Peter had the matrix of all players in his school, from all ages, 5th grade thru the 8th.

Tuesday morning, Peter made an announcement.

“Friends, by careful review of the “selection” process conducted yesterday afternoon. Eight names have been selected to join the new “Third Option Team”. This team will compete against all other teams including our Junior High School neighbors.

Benefits for being on the team are. 1., Designer posters hung in the school cafeteria, made by the Art department. 2., A team photograph hung in the school admin office. 3., Weekly game announcements conducted by Ms. Tanaka, 6th grade math teacher at the end of every Friday lunch hour. 4., Home Economics instructors have committed school resources to make matching team uniforms. And finally, a dedicated team meeting area and dedicated lunch table in the cafeteria for all team players close to the dessert line. Larger lunch servings are expected, final size to be negotiated with school cafeteria management.

I, as your team leader and manager will no longer be able to perform the functions of team player. I will no longer be able to dedicate the time required to perform at the level of perfection, but my involvement will be to see to team needs and resources. My older brother John will be the team coach and principle trainer.

We all know Scott from Mr. Johnson’s class. Scott has always performed well as a kicker. What Scott needed was consistency, he was always being picked one day by one person, another day by someone else. Scott came to me, requesting the opportunity to play for the “Third Option”. What I told Scott was he had the skills required to play for the team, but it would require more of him than any other player. What the team would require of Scott would be for him to serve as its first Team Captain and responsible for setting team standards of performance and behavior on campus.

This announcement of Scott being the very first Team Captain is a historical event.

All in favor in showing support to Scott as your new All Grade - Ponderosa Elementary School Kickball Team, please say, YES!”

“YES” shouts the entire school cafeteria.

“Scott, would you please step forward and announce the remaining 7 players”.

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What lessons can we learn from Peter’s experience?