We hear it all the time in sports. When players believe in their coach they perform at their best and the evidence is obvious on the field and in the result. If a coach can’t win the respect of their players both the team and coach will eventually implode. When star players’ egos take the spotlight, teams crumble.
Some of the greatest coaches ever, and we still see it today (i.e. Dabo Swinney of Clemson, Patty Gasso with Oklahoma Softball), have lived by a value system that completely aligns with Christian values. There is a strong correlation between Christian principles and great coaches.
What does that mean for the future of sports?
Take John Wooden for instance, arguably the greatest coach in sports. He was famously known for instilling in his players:
“Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.”
“Talent is God given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful.”
Legendary coach Vince Lombardi famously reiterated to his players: “Think of only 3 things: Your God, your family, and the Green Bay Packers—in that order.”
In the book Greatness: The 16 Characteristics of True Champions famous sports author Don Yaeger shares what he has learned in his 25 years from some of the greatest athletes and coaches in sports like Michael Jordan, John Wooden among many others. Most of the traits are closely connected to Christian values.
Some of the most important:
Contagious Enthusiasm for Greatness: There’s a difference from being positive and enthusiastic. You can’t help but want to be around these players and athletes because of their zeal on a daily basis. “Engage” is one of the three core tenets FCA instills in their coaches.
Belief in a Higher Power: FCA teaches that each coach and athletes is accountable and a responsible steward of maximizing their God-given talent. There’s transcendent purpose behind performing at one’s best.
Understand that Records are Meant to be Broken: Christian coaches and athletes understand their finiteness but also perform with the understanding that only God determines their limits—no one else.
Ice in their Vains: The true Christian coaches and athletes are fearless and unafraid of adversity. They get that they have limited potential and God is in complete control
Ultimate Teammates: Have a great understanding of selflessness and doing what’s best for the team.
The point: All of these characteristics work with the Fellowship of Christian Athlete’s values and principles.
FCA, if not the largest, one of the largest sports ministries in the world, is transforming the Sports World with their Strategy: 'To and Through the Coach’.
FCA lives by the 3 E’s: equip, engage and empower. Engage those around you with a contagious spirit of passion and zeal to win. Equip those with the necessary skills, tools and fundamentals to succeed. And lastly, empower those around you to have the trust and belief that the work put in has prepared all for any adversity that ensues.
For more information on this story idea, see below.
Thank you,
Pat
Between practices, training camps, team dinners, games, bus rides and the emotional ups and downs of wins and losses, a coach has incredible potential impact on the athletes they lead both on and off the field.
Because of the powerful influence of coaches, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA, www.fca.org) recognizes that one of the best ways to reach more athletes for Christ is to first reach the coach.
FCA’s “To and Through the Coach” strategy is part of the overall larger FCA vision to see the world transformed by Jesus Christ through the influence of coaches and athletes. Coaches frequently share that their connections with FCA have changed their lives and their coaching mindsets for the better.
FCA impacts coaches and athletes through their “engage-equip-empower” method grounded in God’s Word:
Engage—1 Thessalonians 2:8: “So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us” (ESV). FCA staff and volunteers engage with coaches relationally by connecting with them individually and through events in many different environments by building genuine trust, sharing our lives and sharing the gospel. The aim is to connect with coaches and athletes where they are on their spiritual journey.
Equip—Ephesians 4:12: “…to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ” (ESV). After cultivating relationships and once coaches and athletes come to faith in Christ, FCA desires to equip them with Christ-centered training, events, resources and ongoing support in what it means to be a follower of Christ, growing in God’s Word and applying it to life.
Empower—2 Timothy 2:2: “…and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also” (ESV). Once equipped, FCA empowers faithful leaders who desire to use their time, talents and treasures to help other coaches and athletes experience the gospel, grow in their faith and share Jesus with others. FCA seeks to develop disciples who make disciples, assisting them so that they can in turn engage, equip and empower others to know and grow in Christ and lead others to do the same.
View the media page for FCA here. For more information about the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, visit FCA’s web site at www.fca.org, its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/fcafans or its Twitter feed @fcanews.
###
Some of the greatest coaches ever, and we still see it today (i.e. Dabo Swinney of Clemson, Patty Gasso with Oklahoma Softball), have lived by a value system that completely aligns with Christian values. There is a strong correlation between Christian principles and great coaches.
What does that mean for the future of sports?
Take John Wooden for instance, arguably the greatest coach in sports. He was famously known for instilling in his players:
“Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.”
“Talent is God given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful.”
Legendary coach Vince Lombardi famously reiterated to his players: “Think of only 3 things: Your God, your family, and the Green Bay Packers—in that order.”
In the book Greatness: The 16 Characteristics of True Champions famous sports author Don Yaeger shares what he has learned in his 25 years from some of the greatest athletes and coaches in sports like Michael Jordan, John Wooden among many others. Most of the traits are closely connected to Christian values.
Some of the most important:
Contagious Enthusiasm for Greatness: There’s a difference from being positive and enthusiastic. You can’t help but want to be around these players and athletes because of their zeal on a daily basis. “Engage” is one of the three core tenets FCA instills in their coaches.
Belief in a Higher Power: FCA teaches that each coach and athletes is accountable and a responsible steward of maximizing their God-given talent. There’s transcendent purpose behind performing at one’s best.
Understand that Records are Meant to be Broken: Christian coaches and athletes understand their finiteness but also perform with the understanding that only God determines their limits—no one else.
Ice in their Vains: The true Christian coaches and athletes are fearless and unafraid of adversity. They get that they have limited potential and God is in complete control
Ultimate Teammates: Have a great understanding of selflessness and doing what’s best for the team.
The point: All of these characteristics work with the Fellowship of Christian Athlete’s values and principles.
FCA, if not the largest, one of the largest sports ministries in the world, is transforming the Sports World with their Strategy: 'To and Through the Coach’.
FCA lives by the 3 E’s: equip, engage and empower. Engage those around you with a contagious spirit of passion and zeal to win. Equip those with the necessary skills, tools and fundamentals to succeed. And lastly, empower those around you to have the trust and belief that the work put in has prepared all for any adversity that ensues.
For more information on this story idea, see below.
Thank you,
Pat
Between practices, training camps, team dinners, games, bus rides and the emotional ups and downs of wins and losses, a coach has incredible potential impact on the athletes they lead both on and off the field.
Because of the powerful influence of coaches, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA, www.fca.org) recognizes that one of the best ways to reach more athletes for Christ is to first reach the coach.
FCA’s “To and Through the Coach” strategy is part of the overall larger FCA vision to see the world transformed by Jesus Christ through the influence of coaches and athletes. Coaches frequently share that their connections with FCA have changed their lives and their coaching mindsets for the better.
FCA impacts coaches and athletes through their “engage-equip-empower” method grounded in God’s Word:
Engage—1 Thessalonians 2:8: “So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us” (ESV). FCA staff and volunteers engage with coaches relationally by connecting with them individually and through events in many different environments by building genuine trust, sharing our lives and sharing the gospel. The aim is to connect with coaches and athletes where they are on their spiritual journey.
Equip—Ephesians 4:12: “…to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ” (ESV). After cultivating relationships and once coaches and athletes come to faith in Christ, FCA desires to equip them with Christ-centered training, events, resources and ongoing support in what it means to be a follower of Christ, growing in God’s Word and applying it to life.
Empower—2 Timothy 2:2: “…and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also” (ESV). Once equipped, FCA empowers faithful leaders who desire to use their time, talents and treasures to help other coaches and athletes experience the gospel, grow in their faith and share Jesus with others. FCA seeks to develop disciples who make disciples, assisting them so that they can in turn engage, equip and empower others to know and grow in Christ and lead others to do the same.
View the media page for FCA here. For more information about the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, visit FCA’s web site at www.fca.org, its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/fcafans or its Twitter feed @fcanews.
###