Sunday, June 10, 2012

The Purpose of Level 1


My 4 year old son completed his first season of T-Ball this weekend and through all of the games and practices I was constantly reminded of the power and purpose of Level 1.  No matter how far we progress in life, we’ve all got to start at the beginning and T-Ball is what I will call your classic Level 1 experience.   Trying out your new baseball mitt for the first time, learning to catch and hit, your first time running the bases (in the right direction!), learning the positions, sitting on the bench and cheering on your teammates, etc. – it doesn’t get any more foundational than that.

For those of you who have played baseball before, I don’t know about you but I don’t remember T-Ball at all as a child.  I have vague memories of my early little league years but all I really remember was that at some point I knew how to play the game and it was a part of my childhood life.  Like any other new sport or activity that I participated in, I progressed through Level 1 and was eventually engaged in the activity at a higher level of experience, competency and awareness.  For reference, on a scale of 1-7, the San Francisco Giants game that my wife and I attended a few weeks was Level 7 (complete mastery of the game) all the way.

I am guessing that this is common for most of us as Level 1 can be quite a challenging/stressful experience and one that many of us strive to move through quickly so that we can get to the somewhat more enjoyable experience of ‘playing the game’.  My evidence of this is the first season of T-Ball where on my son’s the team the ball was rarely hit more than a tip off the tee (lots of whiffs), most ‘catches’ were bounces or ‘run afters’, throwing to first base was infrequent at best and where tears were at every one of the 24 practices and games (combined with parent hugs and consolations).  However, for every point of sadness, trepidation and confusion, there were 100 points of joy and laughter as the boys and girls learned and experienced together what it is to play a game and be part of a team.  This is part of the purpose of Level 1 – tough times combined with good times - a sometimes exhausting mixture of energies.


And of course, Level 1 is not just for the kids – it’s for the tribe as well.  Parents, grandparents, aunts & uncles, brothers & sisters, spectators, coaches and helpers – everyone collectively experiences Level 1 and often with more awareness and impact then those actually at Level 1.  As a parent, I personally experienced no small amount of learning and growth including:
  • How to support on the sidelines and let my son go play on his own
  • Encourage but not force when he didn’t want to go out on the field
  • Be ready to provide hugs and support when the tears came but then to let him go back out again
  • Be engaged but not ‘in your face’ with my cheers and parent 'pride'
  • Let the coaches do the coaching.  :)
But what I really got out of my son’s T-Ball experience was a reminder about the golden ‘rules’ that I feel apply to almost all Level 1 life experiences.  Whether it be your first season of T-Ball, your first job, your first relationship, your first driving lesson or your first time being a parent, the purpose is to learn and grow - hopefully through love, laughter and joy.  I’m sure there are more, but here are a few that I will take forward with me as I engage in or guide/support others in Level 1 experiences:

1)      Level 1 is a protected space – you are safe when you ‘play’ here - no worries!


2)      Participation is key – everyone bats and plays every position (sometimes together)


3)      There is no scoring – everyone bats and everyone wins


4)      When coaching or guiding someone at Level 1, remember to speak to them at their level


5)      Remember, you’re here to have fun and enjoy the game (of life)



All the Best,
Whitney
© 2012 All rights reserved, Whitney Merrill