Your 10 year-old son is signed up to play soccer for the first time, but everyone on his team has already been playing for at least two or three years.  Despite being fairly athletic, he doesn't understand some of the instructions or terminology coming from his coach, because the coach is assuming previous experience which your son simply never had.  Even as your son struggles, the coaches don't realize it.  Your son is afraid to say he doesn't understand, and instead starts feeling increasingly isolated, and tells you he wants to quit.


     You are an early-career professional at a local tech company, and your team lead asks you to join the company volleyball team.  You're considering it, because you think it might be fun and a good way to get to meet your coworkers.  But you know almost nothing about volleyball, and are afraid you might embarrass yourself with your lack of ability, or even your lack of a grasp of the environment you will encounter.  A coworker offers to give you some tips, but you remain very apprehensive of how you might come across.  With no one to turn to for your real questions, you are leaning toward declining the invitation.


     Your family recently immigrated and have settled in Silicon Valley.  Your children want to play sports like their friends.  You are supportive of course, but not only is their sport of choice brand new to them, it is unfamiliar to you as well.  They struggle, and when they come to you for guidance, your ability to help them is limited.  Together, you probably could figure it out, but you’re now reconsidering whether a non-sports activity might be a less "painful" choice.


     Your high school's JV softball team needs extra players.  You and a few friends agree to give it a try, and the coaches are sensitive to the fact that some of you are beginners.  Practice is always consumed with the fundamentals, and you feel consistently behind.  It's okay, but you feel like you should be having a lot more fun.