It occurred to me last night that my basketball game, my fourth of the season, is likely my fourth organized basketball game of all time. I’ve only played two sports at any level of organization–football and baseball. In truth, I’ve coached far more sports than I ever played and what I did play I didn’t play for terribly long. It goes back to a conversation I had with my mid-kid about potential and the expiring-milk-like value therein. We talked about the boy’s raw potential and the fact that he could be extremely good at whatever he wants if he puts in the hours to get good. It made me think about why I didn’t put in the hours. In baseball I put in just enough effort to accomplish my goal–which was taking a roster spot from another kid. In football I put in enough effort to be invited to walk on, and once there invited to stick around, and once injured invited to walk away. It all ties into the relationship between motivation and zone of proximal development (ZPD). See, you got to want something bad enough to fight for it and it has to be close enough in reach that you can do it with assistance.
I remember that sense of knowing every piece of dead weight lifted is working towards the none-too-distant goal of taking someone’s spot on the roster, breaking that next tackle, jumping just a bit higher for the catch, and onward. I also remember how lost and confused I was in that first football practice where everyone else in a 3 mile radius seemed to know exactly what the frack they were doing. I needed help, and our QB picked up on it. He showed me the ropes that first day and then drove me back to the dorm after practice. It was real leadership, but it was also motivation to go back the next day and put in the work to make him successful. I’m starting to feel that sense in basketball, where I recognize where and how I can improve in the sport and I care enough about helping my team that I’ll put in the work.
It can be hard to get to the point where you are wiling to put in the hard work to accomplish your goals. I don’t think Vygotsky felt that it was something people could initially do alone. ZPD tells us that we get the most out of being at a place where we need that help and even that push to get better. In my experience being pushed and even being the pusher, he’s right.