Coach’s Mandate

Pray as though nothing of eternal value is going to happen in my athletes’ lives unless God does it. Prepare each practice and game, giving my utmost for His highest. Seek not to be served by my athletes for personal gain, but serve them as Christ served the church.

Under Control

 "A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls." - Proverbs 25:28 (ESV) As a high school student, I kept the shot chart for the varsity basketball coach. This required me to sit next to him on the bench during each game. He did a great...

Walking Straight

 "Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth...." - Psalm 86:11 (ESV) If I had a dollar for every line I've painted on an athletic field, I'd be a wealthy man! Preparing a field for competition is an art and it also requires having the right equipment. I...
The Greatest Champion

The Greatest Champion

It all comes down to one game. The Alabama Crimson Tide and the Clemson Tigers face off for the right to be called National Champions for the 2017 college football season. A price has been paid by the athletes and coaches who will compete in this rematch of last...

Driving the Bus

Driving the Bus

“Those who trust their own insight are foolish, but anyone who walks in wisdom is safe.” – Proverbs 28:26 Have you ever thought too highly of yourself? I was guilty of falling into that trap as a young coach working with a very successful high school program. As...

Seeing the Big Picture

Seeing the Big Picture

“So if you are serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on...

Titles

Titles

“She will bring a son to birth, and when she does, you, Joseph, will name him Jesus –‘God saves’ —because he will save his people from their sins.” – Matthew 1:21 (The Message) Titles often command great respect. The President of the United States is considered to...

Feeding the Hungry

Feeding the Hungry

“Tell them to sit down,” Jesus said. So they all sat down on the grassy slopes. Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and distributed them to the people. Afterward he did the same with the fish. And they all ate as much as they wanted. John 6:10-11 How...

Coachable

Coachable

“Commit yourself to instruction; listen carefully to words of knowledge.” – Proverbs 23:12 A great deal of our time as coaches is spent giving instructions. Day after day we teach, reinforce, and test our athletes in the skills of sport. We give chalk talks, run...

Giving Thanks

Giving Thanks

“Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Life comes at us fast! As coaches we wear many hats and have more on our “To Do” lists than we have time...

Counting the Cost

Counting the Cost

“But don’t begin until you count the cost.  For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it? – Luke 14:28 Everything costs something! How many times have we heard our athletes say...

Goals

Goals

“I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” – Philippians 3:14 As coaches, we go into every season with goals. There’s always a prize we’re chasing. It could be a state championship or...

Friendship

Friendship

“A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in a time of need.” – Proverbs 17:17 The value of true friendship is priceless. At the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games, Japanese pole vaulters Shuhei Nishida and Sueo Oe tied for second place. The teammates were...

Between a Rock and a Hard Place

Between a Rock and a Hard Place

“As Pharaoh approached, the people of Israel looked up and panicked when they saw the Egyptians overtaking them. They cried out to the Lord….” – Exodus 14:10 As coaches, it’s not unusual to find ourselves in tight spots during competition. How we respond to those...