“He first found his brother Simon and told him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (which means “Anointed One”), and he brought him (Simon) to Jesus.”
– John 1:41

Most successful coaches have learned the art of effective communication. Coaches are teachers in the truest sense, but our classrooms look a little different. We teach on grassy fields, hardwood courts and synthetic tracks instead of rooms lined with desks, tables and chairs. In communicating with our athletes, coaches often make it harder than it needs to be. We take an athletic skill, break it down into multiple stages and techniques, and then try to teach it to our athletes so that they can execute it perfectly. To be blunt, coaches can take something simple and make it complicated. Before we know it, we can have our athletes thinking more and executing less. Effective coaches learn the value of keeping things simple. Charles Swindoll had this advice for pastors in the pulpit, and it applies to coaches as well. “If there is mist behind the pulpit, there is fog in the pew.” Ever feel like your athletes were in a fog? Maybe you’re making it too complicated.

I love the disciple Andrew; he understood the value of keeping his message simple. Andrew was one of the first to meet Jesus following his baptism by John the Baptist. When a person finds Jesus, he usually wants his friends and relatives to meet Him too. So Andrew finds his brother Simon and shares this simple message, “We have found the Messiah!” What a powerful message contained in only five words. Men have been waiting for the promised Christ for thousands of years, and now He was here. I can only laugh when I think about how a coach might have tried to tell it. We know one thing for sure; it would have taken more than five words! No mist, no fog, just, “We have found the Messiah!” More profound words have never been spoken.

Heavenly Father, thank You for keeping Your message simple. You made me, You love me, and You want me to spend eternity with You. Help me share these simple truths with those I teach today. Amen.