Theory Greatness is not a function of circumstance. Greatness, it turns out, is largely a matter of conscious choice. -Jim Collins, Good to Great The conscious choice to be a great competitive club starts with choosing the right people for the organization. Try-outs are an opportunity for the team to select disciplined individuals who can be transformed into great paintball players. Team leadership is often concerned with how to be successful as an organization, which for us means winning. Non-transformational leadership would seek to establish a direction, vision, and strategy to generate a winning team, and then to get people committed and aligned behind that new direction. The concept of transformational leadership demands the opposite however. A passage from Good to Great illustrates this idea perfectly: [Effective leaders] did not first figure out where to drive the bus and then get people to take it there. No, they first got the right people on the bus (and the wrong people off the bus) and then figured out where to drive it. They said, in essence, Look, I don t really know where we should take this bus. But I know this much: If we get the right people on the bus, the right people in the right seats, and the wrong people off the bus, then we ll figure out how to take it someplace great. To remain true to this concept, our Brothers must first and foremost remember that it is more important to select disciplined recruits, capable of disciplined thought and action, than to choose individuals based solely upon their paintball skill. Choosing disciplined individuals negates the need to constantly motivate and manage team members; they are self-motivated to produce the best results and to be a part of a great team. Great vision without great people is irrelevant. Implementation of a Try-Outs Plan Objectivity is crucial when designing a try-outs process to best benefit our team and choose the right recruits. Subjectivity within the try-outs process can lead to complaints of unfair treatment from those individuals being evaluated. These complaints would bring much discredit upon the team, portray us as an unprofessional organization, and bring much unwanted attention from high-ranking individuals. The key aspects of any personnel selection process is the distribution of expectations to recruits ( what right looks like ), an objective rating system for characteristics of performance (and associated word picture for each rating), and proper prior planning. Distribution of Expectations Most recruits are unsure of what performance is expected of them during the try-outs process. Most assume that players will be assessed solely upon their paintball skill and level of experience. It is important to notify them that playing ability is only one factor to be considered;
they will also be assessed based upon their sportsmanship/attitude, mental toughness, coachability, physical fitness, and social ability. Objective Rating System Below are the grading components listed for recruits (adapted from DPE CSI Grading Rubric for Athletes): Sportsmanship/Attitude: A recruit displays a good attitude and the qualities of a good sportsman: Mental Toughness: 17 19 Regularly (80 to 94% of the time) 14 16 Generally, more often than not (70 to 79% of the time) 11 13 Sometimes, occasionally (50 to 69% of the time) 0 10 Seldom, hardly ever (less than 50% of the time) A recruit displays mental toughness: Coachability: 17 19 Regularly (80 to 94% of the time) 14 16 Generally, more often than not (70 to 79% of the time) 11 13 Sometimes, occasionally (50 to 69% of the time) 0 10 Seldom, hardly ever (less than 50% of the time) A recruit is responsive to coaching: Physical Fitness: A recruit is physically in the: 16 19 Regularly (80 to 94% of the time) 12 15 Generally, more often than not (70 to 79% of the time) 10 11 Sometimes, occasionally (50 to 69% of the time) 0 9 Seldom, hardly ever (less than 50% of the time) 15 Top 10% of recruits 13 14 Top 25% of recruits 12 Top 50% of recruits 0 11 Bottom 50% of recruits
Playing Ability: A recruit has the playing ability of the: Social Ability: 15 Top 10% of recruits 13 14 Top 25% of recruits 12 Top 50% of recruits 0 11 Bottom 50% of recruits A recruit has the associated ability to communicate with others and to be socially accepted: 10 Top 10% of recruits 6-9 Top 25% of recruits 3-6 Top 50% of recruits 0 3 Bottom 50% of recruits
Grading Rubric Word Pictures Component Pts (max) Traits Sportsmanship Attitude Team Player 20pts -Honors the game by playing within the rules and the spirit of the game -Never cheats or uses gamesmanship tactics to gain an unfair advantage -Corrects a teammate that plays unfair or exhibits inappropriate conduct -Does not use performance-enhancing drugs -Shows respect for referees and opponents -Congratulates opponents following either victory or defeat -Wins or loses with dignity -Maintains self-control in response to any physical or verbal harassment, or fouls -Shows respect for teammates -Places team goals ahead of personal goals and individual statistics -Willing to play any role in order to make the team better -Displays an unwavering commitment to team goals -Compliments rather than criticizes team members -Attempts to make every teammate a better player -Exhibits an all-out effort / never lets teammates down -Is not jealous of the success of team members -Takes on additional responsibilities to achieve team goals -Exemplifies team pride both on and off the athletic playing fields Refrains from: -profanity and vulgar language -arguments with referees, opponents, and coaches -temper outbursts or displaying anger after a mistake, loss, or poor performance -gamesmanship tactics, including harassment, heckling, or trash talking -blaming others for personal errors; over-celebration -intentional aggressive acts which are not part of a competitive, fairly-played game Mental Toughness Winning Spirit 20pts -Possesses the discipline and inner drive to give their best regardless of the score, weather or any condition that could be a distraction -Exhibits the moral courage to compete ethically -Thrives and succeeds in competitive situations -Performs the best during crucial moments -Never makes excuses -Doesn t allow frustration to undermine confidence or concentration -Never quits -Refuses to allow their spirit to be broken -Stays fully committed to the team s mission -Starts and finishes all endeavors with positive energy and enthusiasm Coachablility Teachable Spirit 20 pts -Shows respect for coaches and listens intently to their instructions -Eager to learn -Great attitude everyday -Accepts corrections constructively -Admits mistakes and learns from them Physical Fitness 15 pts -Displays signs of general overall fitness -Demonstrates general athletic ability -Demonstrates superiority in paintball-related fitness Playing Ability Social Ability 15pts 10pts -Demonstrates superiority in sports-related skills -Demonstrates superiority in health-related components of physical fitness -Demonstrates an ability to effectively communicate with other individuals -Demonstrates social behavior that is expected from a commissioned officer -Demonstrates an ability to integrate within the dynamic of the team -Demonstrates that he/she is not a one-upper -Does not claim to know everything about anything
Risk Mitigation Risk Assessment Any physical training event can become disastrous without proper prior planning. Unmitigated risks in the sport of paintball can quickly turn deadly. It is important to always implement Army Composite Risk Management Worksheet to identify any risks associated with the physical dangers of paintball and the dangers of heat-related injuries. See Composite Risk Management Worksheet below. Hazing There is a fine line between assessing recruits physical fitness abilities through intense physical training, and hazing. Hazing is defined as subjecting individuals to abusive or humiliating treatment and ridicule. Suspicions of hazing can quickly escalate to a high-profile investigation and can reflect poorly not only upon the team, but also the Academy, and the Army. All physical events conducted during try-outs should perform a specific function related to paintball and should be first approved by the team captain. Hazing, risk mitigation, checklist for essential equipment