There are many ways we could approach leadership development. Some may wonder how playing a game can be considered beneficial in the long-run. Isn't it something that should be used as a reward after the hard work of learning is completed? Our response would be, "Why can't learning be associated with what is enjoyable?" We hope that in developing leaders they find themselves engaged in meaningful, beneficial activities in which they find joy.
Fun, however, does not mean that the time we spend doing what we love is not intentional and full of hard work. Our practice time is focused. We work on fundamental skills to make us better ball players and to understand the importance of discipline. We strategize by practicing plays to win more games and to learn about being intentional. We scrimmage and play as a group to become better teammates, able to work together. Communication, respecting authority, and humility are crucial to our success. We deal with character constantly. How we each conduct ourselves in practice, during games, and in our lives matters and affects our team dynamic. This applies to the youth we are teaching as well as to us as coaches. Here's a great example of the impact we hope being a Christ Church King has on its players.
About a year ago, a young man became a student at the alternative school where I teach. He was undisciplined, had a bad attitude and acted a bit wild at times. Most people, including myself some days, didn’t have much hope for him. However, we were able to find a common bond: basketball. He soon found out that I coached a rec team. Just about every day he would ask if he could join us. At first I told him no because I didn’t believe that he would fit with our group of guys. It also didn't help that he was struggling to listen to authority at school. Why would he listen to me?
During our spring testing he was placed in my classroom. On the first day it was only he and I in the room. Once he was finished with his tests, he began to ask me questions about the team. As we were talking I offered him a deal. If he came every day to take his tests and didn’t get into any trouble with any of his teachers, he could start coming to our practices. Sure enough, he rose to the occasion and kept his end of the deal, so I had to keep mine. His summer and a fall semester was full of hard work and character building moments in class, at practice, and during games. This hard work ended up making it possible for him to exit the alternative school and he is now back at his base school. As an added bonus, he made the freshman team and is doing well.
His mom continues to emphasize how she has seen her son start to grow into the young man she has always known he could be since becoming a part of the Kings. At first she was hesitant to let her son come but once she started seeing the changes in him she said she "had to let her son keep playing ball." Now if there is an issue, she'll reach out and we will work together to help him see the effects of his choices and provide suggestions and help. She, like any involved parent, is an important part of the Kings.
We know that God is the one who causes the growth. We are simply striving to instill biblical truths into these young men and their families through our coaches and volunteers. Our hope is that while they are playing this game that they enjoy, they are also coming to know the God who loves them and learning valuable life lessons that will continue to impact them, their families and our community in the future.
