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Post by runtheball86 on Jul 17, 2006 18:45:30 GMT -6
To all coaches in public schools:
If you have a team prayer before the game, please share itwith us. If you don't, please give a brief explanation of why not (if there is an explanation!). Also, in which state do you coach.
Thanks!
Ours is:
Please lets take a moment before we go out.
Please use this time in ways consistent with your own personall beliefs.
Please think about what we hope to accomplish as individuals and as a team.
And please join me in a our wish that no one is ever injured seriously during the game of football.
(Moment of silence)
Ok, boys - lets go out and play hard for 48!
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Post by toprowguy on Jul 17, 2006 19:44:28 GMT -6
Goggle Marcus Borden from East Brunswick (NJ) find and read his story of pray in a public story.
What you read and what really happened according to MArcus are two different things.
Had the opportunity to talk to Marcus about this and it is amazing what happened to him.
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Post by coachcalande on Jul 17, 2006 19:48:31 GMT -6
Moment of silence that players can use any way they want. Typically about 30 seconds long.
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Post by coachd5085 on Jul 17, 2006 20:06:56 GMT -6
Having been at Catholic Schools...Non religious (but heavily populated by jewish students) private, and public schools, I have found myself in three different scenarios:
Catholic Schools-Pregame Hail Mary, Lots of prayers..etc. That is to be expected (12 years of catholic school education)
Non Religious Private- No reference to religion at any time.
Public school- Daily Prayer (Lord's prayer)
I am not fully comfortable with prayer prior to public school events, and this was due to the private school experience. While the geographic area is heavily chrisitan (New Orleans area) Jewish students represented at least half of the enrollment at that school. However, none of coaches or athletic administration were Jewish. These dynamics lead me to realize that if the "majority" had imposed their will, I would have had to brush up on my yiddish:)
This leads to my discomfort at the public school. It is common practice, but...i can't help think that there are a few students out there that just don't feel comfortable, however, they don't want to endure the criticism that any type of protest would bring.
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Post by gamedog on Jul 17, 2006 20:29:25 GMT -6
We have the Lord's prayer before the game and then one of the kids usually leads a prayer after the game on the field. We are a public school and we tell the kids before the year starts they don't have to participate. Twice last year the other school's coaches left the field when the two teams started praying because they were afraid of getting in trouble with their administration.
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Post by runtheball86 on Jul 17, 2006 20:51:15 GMT -6
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Post by ocinaz on Jul 17, 2006 21:19:33 GMT -6
Back in the olden days, in 1992, my soph year. We were defending state champs, 5-0, number one ranked in the state. Our school board adopted a new rule that our HC cannot pray or lead our team prayer. He resigned over it, and we only won 1 more game and missed the playoffs. So as far as I know, here in AZ, at our school you are not allowed to pray.
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Post by goldenbear76 on Jul 17, 2006 23:40:11 GMT -6
As i'm not religious..I wouldn't promote it at Public schools..but I would let it be known that if players wish to pray either individually or as a team it is their right, before and after games. I would also make it known that it is not mandatory. If they choose as a team to pray..I would pray with them, even though its not my nature.
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Post by chiefscoach on Jul 18, 2006 5:23:32 GMT -6
The way I feel about it is that I am a Christian and if you are intrusting your kid to me the very least I can do for you kid is pray for him and his safety before he goes out on that field. Thats just my opinion.
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Post by coachveer on Jul 18, 2006 7:06:41 GMT -6
We are a public school and say the Lords Prayer before every game. Never had anyone say anything.
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Post by sls on Jul 18, 2006 7:36:56 GMT -6
We are a public school that still prays at graduation, before football games, and even before board meetings. It's pretty conservative.
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Post by gamedog on Jul 18, 2006 8:32:36 GMT -6
A team in our district does it the greatest way I have ever seen since they outlawed prayer at football games.
The announcer says: "If we were allowed to pray tonight this is what I would say", and then he says a message and then he follows it with "But since we can't pray, I can't say that". He gets a standing ovation every game.
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Post by coachd5085 on Jul 18, 2006 13:27:47 GMT -6
For all of those that say "The Lord's prayer" or some other christian invocation...how would you feel if you were led in the "Hail Mary" instead? Now, what about a non christian prayer? ...What about a Wiccan Chant?
As I said, having been in the "minority" before, I think it is best if nothing be done at all.
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Post by airman on Jul 18, 2006 13:43:04 GMT -6
a staff member cannot lead student prayer on school grounds, for a school sanctioned event. this is how you will lose in court.
so you do what my friend does. you step across the street, in a private parking lot and before the game and do the prayer.
it makes the local aclu mad, but there is nothing they can do.
now if a student leads the prayer, you are okay.
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Post by wpialoline on Jul 18, 2006 19:05:01 GMT -6
We don't have a set prayer it is really what ever is on the coaches heart at the time. At the end of each prayer we do say the Lords Prayer
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