Kellan was coaching one of the beginning soccer teams—the Falcons. It was their first practice.
"Angela, you're supposed to be guarding the net!" Kellan called out.
"But I'm making a flower chain for you," the girl replied.
A few moments later, Angela ran off the field to present Kellan with her gift. Angela's teammate Jason, meanwhile, was following the slow-movement of a caterpillar(毛毛虫)in the middle of the field, while another player, Rory, was playing in a nearby pond(池塘)of rainwater.
After the practice, Kellan felt really tired, as if she had run a marathon.
When she arrived home, Kellan threw herself on the sofa and thought carefully about the practice. The players ran in a hundred different directions. They didn't recognize each other's talents and had no idea how to work together. As she touched the flower chain still hanging around her neck, an idea slowly started taking shape in her mind.
The next day, Kellan called for her players to gather around and took out a picture. The picture showed the loops of a big chain, and each loop had a team member's name as well as a talent written on it.
"This picture shows one way each person can help our team," Kellan began explaining. "For example, Rory has fast speed, and Jason has sharp eyes for watching the ball." Kellan noticed how everyone in the group slowly changed, sitting up taller and smiling as she mentioned their names and skills.
"What will happen if one loop is missing?" asked Kellan.
"The chain will fall apart, and it won't be chain anymore," Angela replied.
"Exactly!" Kellan said. "In order to be a team, we need everyone to work together, like loops in a chain. It won't be easy, but I want every person to try."
Her players still tried hard with their practice, but, for the first time, they tried to help each other. It was a start. Kellan felt a sense of satisfaction as she waved good-bye to her team at the end of the practice.