Playworks can present many challenges in the first couple of weeks when beginning as a first time coach at a new school. My story begins at the start of the school year with a young man named Bahzia.
The story begins with a game of kickball during recess. I noticed something extraordinary while I was rolling the ball to each participant during the game. Bahzia, without being told to do so, instinctively began letting children in front of him who had not had an opportunity to participate. It was at that moment I recognized that Bahzia was a perfect candidate for the Junior Coach Program.
Bahzia presented some challenges. Although he is very polite, courteous, and is an overall good kid, Bahzia still has momentary moments of anger. He has had a few moments in the classroom where his anger and emotions may have got the best of him. Since becoming a Junior Coach, Bahzia has adopted a method in which he and I work through the issue, do not ignore the problem and find balance.
The growth and progress that Bahzia has made in the classroom has been extraordinary and, admittedly, makes me smile to this day. Bahzia was shy and didn’t say a lot in the beginning. Now, as a junior coach, he leads chants, is unselfish, and leads by example.
