The coach goes to the meeting, but finds that the meeting is canceled.
On his way back, the coach finds his star player, Adam, in the hallway with his girlfriend. The two of them are so involved in the attention they are giving each other that neither of them see the coach. His team had done a poor job last game, especially in the free throw department, but at this time, he feels their individual commitment to the team is more important than their free throw shooting ability.
The coach quietly walks to his office overlooking the gymnasium and seats himself at his desk, unnoticed.
Near the end of the hour, he notices Adam return to the gymnasium. The coach then slips back into the hallway, unnoticed, and whistles as he approaches the gym.
While whistling, the coach contemplates two courses of action ...but, dismisses both, as he figures they would be a bit sneaky and sneakiness is the issue he is trying to remedy.
Coach: "My meeting was canceled today ...so, I went to my office to observe all of you shooting free throws. Well, nearly all of you ...as most of you were probably also aware of Adam's absence."
Adam: "Coach, you are aware that I made all my free throws last game."
Coach: "And how many free throws was that, Adam?"
Adam: "Two ...but, I didn't miss!!"
Coach: "What do you think the consequence should be for you skipping out on shooting free throws last hour, Adam?"
Adam: "I think the team should run wind sprints for the next half hour."
Coach: "We all know you are the fastest, and that you like wind sprints. Do you think the rest of the team likes wind sprints?"
Adam: "No, but it would be good for them. They need wind sprint exercise more than I need free throw practice."
Coach: "Maybe so, but that should be an individual decision of mine ...I asked you what you thought should be the consequence for what you did. How is doing something you like and everyone else doesn't ...a consequence for you?"
Adam: "You asked me what I thought ...what teen doesn't want to do what he likes?"
Coach: "And that includes sneaking out of practice to be with your girlfriend?"
Adam: "There's nothing I like better!"
Coach: "Okay, I hear way too much snickering here, so I'm going to ask the entire team to vote on whether they think it'd be more fair for all of you to do an hour of wind sprints ...or for you to be suspended from school for the next two days, on the eve of the big dance."
(The team votes unanimously to do an hour of wind sprints.)
Coach: "Adam, it seems that the team's loyalty to you is greater than your loyalty towards them. To be honest, this little conversation was really a lesson about loyalty. I'll tell you what, Adam, if you can make ten-out-of-ten free throws, right now, the team will not have to run wind sprints. But, if you miss just one out of the ten, everyone has to do an hour of wind sprints ...as you all voted on. If you are going to be that loyal to Adam and his social life, then you can also show your loyalty and commitment to an extra hour of practice."
Coach: "We all know you are the fastest, and that you like wind sprints. Do you think the rest of the team likes wind sprints?"
Adam: "No, but it would be good for them. They need wind sprint exercise more than I need free throw practice."
Coach: "Maybe so, but that should be an individual decision of mine ...I asked you what you thought should be the consequence for what you did. How is doing something you like and everyone else doesn't ...a consequence for you?"
Adam: "You asked me what I thought ...what teen doesn't want to do what he likes?"
Coach: "And that includes sneaking out of practice to be with your girlfriend?"
Adam: "There's nothing I like better!"
Coach: "Okay, I hear way too much snickering here, so I'm going to ask the entire team to vote on whether they think it'd be more fair for all of you to do an hour of wind sprints ...or for you to be suspended from school for the next two days, on the eve of the big dance."
(The team votes unanimously to do an hour of wind sprints.)
Coach: "Adam, it seems that the team's loyalty to you is greater than your loyalty towards them. To be honest, this little conversation was really a lesson about loyalty. I'll tell you what, Adam, if you can make ten-out-of-ten free throws, right now, the team will not have to run wind sprints. But, if you miss just one out of the ten, everyone has to do an hour of wind sprints ...as you all voted on. If you are going to be that loyal to Adam and his social life, then you can also show your loyalty and commitment to an extra hour of practice."
