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1StrongBlackMan

(31,849 posts)
Thu May 19, 2016, 10:32 PM May 2016

Many ... now, many, many ... years ago ...

Last edited Thu May 19, 2016, 11:36 PM - Edit history (1)

I played on a High-school Football team. We were 65 players strong ... essentially, everyone that came out the first day of practice, was on the team.

We practiced, hard, all summer, and there was some real competition for positions.

About a month before the first game, the Coach had to cut the roster down to the "travel squad" and the "practice squad" ... 44 players got to travel, the rest got a uniform and attended practice; but, didn't dress, or travel, for the games.

For three weeks, the Travel Squad and Practice Squad practiced hard and spiritedly.

The week before the first game, 5 Freshman on the Practice Squad announced they were walking off the team because they felt they should have been elevated to the Traveling Squad.

You know what the Coach said?

"Okay. But know ... what you do today, will affect your next 3 years at this school."

I don't know why I felt compelled to relate that memory.

9 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Many ... now, many, many ... years ago ... (Original Post) 1StrongBlackMan May 2016 OP
Great story and the moral is so very applicable to some of the threads on DU Gothmog May 2016 #1
It was just a memory ... 1StrongBlackMan May 2016 #2
Good one! emulatorloo May 2016 #3
Because you still work hard as hard as you can. marble falls May 2016 #4
What? You don't ... 1StrongBlackMan May 2016 #5
All depends who the coach is and what his program is. Fact is hard work deserves recognition .... marble falls May 2016 #6
Are you serious ... 1StrongBlackMan May 2016 #9
Really? wildeyed May 2016 #8
Good analogy. wildeyed May 2016 #7
 

1StrongBlackMan

(31,849 posts)
5. What? You don't ...
Fri May 20, 2016, 08:06 AM
May 2016

as a Freshman, practice squad, player ... threaten to quit because you think you should be positioned better?

marble falls

(56,358 posts)
6. All depends who the coach is and what his program is. Fact is hard work deserves recognition ....
Fri May 20, 2016, 08:24 AM
May 2016

and reward.

You do know I was answering your last question, about why you still remember this event, whether you were on the bus or not.

 

1StrongBlackMan

(31,849 posts)
9. Are you serious ...
Fri May 20, 2016, 10:38 AM
May 2016

The coach, whoever he/she might be, or what her/his program is, calls the shots. Period.

Now, understand ... and I think this needs to be said, as it appears that too many people have never learned this life lesson ... the (self-assessed) hard working, deserving of recognition and reward player is, certainly, free to walk off the team; but, at that moment, he/she has decided that she/he does not want to gain that recognition or reward. AND, contrary to her/his belief, he/she is unlikely to be missed ... otherwise, she/he wouldn't be walking off.

And, yes ... I was on the traveling squad and started every game after the first game, my Freshman year.

wildeyed

(11,240 posts)
8. Really?
Fri May 20, 2016, 10:12 AM
May 2016

lol. And I have seen plenty of mediocre athletic talent exceed naturally gifted athletes because they showed up and worked hard every single day while the talented ones loafed and got by on their genetic abilities.

And plenty who are elevated to a leadership position on the team because they exhibited great team spirit and sportsmanship. Coaches might put up with the trash talkers when they are weak in a certain position, but the second they find new talent, those are the ones who get cut. More trouble than they are worth, I guess

wildeyed

(11,240 posts)
7. Good analogy.
Fri May 20, 2016, 10:04 AM
May 2016

One of my young employees made a similar comment yesterday.

When he was a teenager, he started attending an adult Bible study at his church because the teen group was boring. First meeting he popped off with a silly, impulsive comment designed to agitate the older members. His older brother took him aside later and said, "You know that all of the people in that group were inclined to discount your opinion, just based on your age and because you led with such a silly comment, they might never listen to anything you say again." And to this day, he makes sure that his first comment in a new situation is well thought out and on point.

And it is true. He is one that doesn't talk much, but when he does, I stop what I am doing and listen, because I know that he feels strongly and took the time to think about what to say. It is not just stream of consciousness rant. Out of respect, I will usually honor whatever he requests since he is often right and doesn't complain or shift blame when things go wrong. Essentially, he has earned the repect of the management team, and now gets to call some of the shots.

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