The Locker Room Playbook

14I Want the Ball

For Everyone

Core Lessons

• Making a mistake doesn't make YOU a mistake.
• Forgiveness doesn't heal the hurt, but it's a good place to start.

Chapter Summary

Davey and Marcellus are the last two athletes to speak after a long and intense sharing session with the whole team. Davey has finally seen the error of what he said at the party, as well as how he handled things afterward. From a place of understanding, he accepts responsibility for his actions and prepares himself to face the consequences. Marcellus speaks last, expressing forgiveness to both Coach Smitty and Davey, even going so far as to offer to run Davey's punishment miles with him. The hurt and the trials are not over, but the team has taken a giant step toward overcoming them.

Deep Dive Teaching

When someone hurts us, we feel varied emotions. We might be angry, hurt, or betrayed. We might want to hurt them like they've hurt us. We might be ready to write them off and never speak to them again. Pain and its accompanying emotions can lead us in a lot of different directions, but there is only one path that brings about healing: forgiveness.

Forgiveness does not instantly heal the hurt, but it's the only place to start. Think of it in terms of a physical wound. If you get a deep cut, a simple bandage or ignoring the cut isn't going to heal the wound. You need to get stitches. Stitches are uncomfortable, and they aren't magic. But they will lead to healing over time so that you might not even ...