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...

What Did You Say?

"Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!" - Psalm 141:3 (ESV) C.J. Stroud was taken as the second-round pick of the Houston Texans in the 2023 NFL Draft. He went on to be chosen as the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year finishing the...
Team Meeting

Team Meeting

“Woe to you experts of the law! You have taken away the key to knowledge! You didn’t go in yourselves, and you hindered those who were going in.” – Luke 11:52 We all know about the team meeting. When things aren’t going well, the coach gathers his or her players...

Quitting

Quitting

“For they were all trying to intimidate us, saying, ‘They will become discouraged in the work, and it will never be finished.”’ - Nehemiah 6:9 As practice was about to begin two coaches watched the players come out of the locker room and begin walking to the field....

Gear Up!

Gear Up!

“Therefore take up the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.” - Ephesians 6:13 (ESV) In sports, having the proper equipment is crucial. Too often, when we watch youth sports, we see athletes using...

Distractions

Distractions

“I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. – Psalm 119:15 (ESV) One of the great problems in leadership is becoming distracted. How often as coaches do we find ourselves getting off the main road and meandering down rabbit holes? When we’re...

Expectations

Expectations

“As the people were in expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ….” - Luke 3:15 (ESV) As coaches, we know all too well about expectations. An expectation is defined as “a strong belief that something will...

The Value of Today

The Value of Today

“Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Matthew 6:34 (ESV) “To live in the past and future is easy. To live in the present is like threading a needle.” These words by Walker...

New Beginnings

New Beginnings

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” – 2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV) Each new season brings new players, new chemistry, new goals and new experiences. No matter how long we’ve been coaching,...

Team

Team

“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow.” – Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (ESV)   It’s not easy to build a TEAM. As coaches, we are asked to take a group of individuals and mold them into a...

Never Quit

Never Quit

“And David said to Saul, ‘Let no man’s heart fail because of him. Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.”’ – 1 Samuel 17:32 (ESV) How do you know you’re defeated? When do you quit? On April 26, 2003, mountain-climber Aron Ralston found himself in a...

Sharpen the Ax

Sharpen the Ax

“Be ready and keep ready…..” – Ezekiel 38:7 (ESV) Details, little things, how often we skip over them to get on with the job at hand. Abraham Lincoln, our nation’s 16th President, is known for his wisdom and wit. He is quoted as having said, “If you have been given...

God Gave Me Work to Do

God Gave Me Work to Do

“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive an inheritance as your reward.” – Colossians 3:23-24 (ESV) It’s been seven years since Alzheimer’s took the life of Coach Pat Summitt. Who can forget the...

Criticism

Criticism

“By the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is overthrown.” – Proverbs 11:11 (ESV) If you have been coaching very long, you have probably developed a thick skin. It’s not easy being in the line of fire for criticism that can...