|
|
Post by amikell on Apr 17, 2008 11:11:30 GMT -6
As coaches, we need to remember that we are a lamp on a hill weather we want to be or not... this is a great quote. some choose to let their religion be the light that shines. Other choose their knowledge of football. Like others, I don't agree with pushing religion, and I think you have to tread carefully. However, if it is who you are, then be yourself. Our HC is one of the finest men I have ever met. He is also a devout Christian. He provides opportunities for our players to connect w/ God, not mandatory. He is simply providing the opportunity. He's one of the least pushy Christians I have ever met. We prayer before games on the sidelines in front of the whole town. We do this at least in part, because it is who our HC is, and he doesn't want to be in a place where it's not accepted. Would this work at a school where a significant part of the population was not Christian, maybe even not protestant? No Would it work in an area that was more intolerant of religion in public life? no It works in our small, southern town. One reason. He's not a hypocrite. He's a good person who believes in using football to teach life lessons. I think this, as with most things in life, is a topic in which there are no black and whites, only grays. Hey, this is just my opinion. I am one of the least religious people I know, but I grew up on a public high school football team w/ a team chaplain that was a Baptist preacher. Yes I was in the deep south. |
|
|
|
Post by tigercoach on Apr 17, 2008 11:42:53 GMT -6
I agree that "religion" has no place in football but I believe "faith" does. Religious hypocrites have severely damaged the reputation of faith for those of us who believe in a living, loving relationship with our Savior. By your own response you say that "As soon as you put religion in that mix, you start to become more than a football coach." But before that you said: "Kids come to play football and we give them that along with teaching them to be good, responsible, respectful people." Does that not cross the "football coach" line? What about taking a kid in whose parents were killed? Or becoming a foster parent to one of your players who was abused in every way possible? Did I cross the line as a coach? I don't know where the line is when it comes to helping kids lead a better, fuller, more enriched lives. I think any person on the street can teach a kid to catch, throw, block, etc. and to me it is living that "faith" by teaching kids through our actions as well as being good, responsible and respectful that coaching football as well as any other sport is all about. Let me close by simply saying being a hypocrite is a choice and none of us have to make the choice to be one whether you are a Believer or not. Thanks for letting me speak my heart, I am not calling you out or anything of the sort so please don't take it that way. I respect your feelings and understand that we see it from two different viewpoints. Good luck next season. I hear what you're saying coach...to me, religion is a very personal thing, and like the above coach said, is a very sensitive subject. You can talk about why it is bad to lie without talking about the Ten Commandments I guess is what I am getting at. Helping a kid keep his grades up or consoling them after there is a tragedy in their family, to me, is being a coach. Pushing religion or politics is not. Wing, I'm with you all the way!  "Religion" today has been abused and I think even has a negative connotation to a certain degree, heck, I'm down on "religion". We have all had people tell us how we should be or live or do and then watch them drive to the bar or strip club, whatever and wonder "wow, he just told I shouldn't..." Bad deal all the way around. |
|
kr7263
Sophomore Member
Posts: 228
|
Post by kr7263 on Apr 17, 2008 13:28:15 GMT -6
Read Tony Dungy's Quiet Strength. A man of faith who uses his faith to guide his players & staff without "preaching". A man who lives it through good times and tragedy and continues to show faith.
IMO faith is not something you say or even do, it is what you are every day all the time even when nobody is looking. Faith is doing the right thing even though it's not popular or current or self-gratifying. Faith is being a thumb pointer - looking at the man in the mirror - showing responsibility, accountability and being reliable. These are all things I tell my team everyday. These are all things I want my team to aspire to. Do I have to read scripture to get them to understand? no Do I have to force them to go to church or chapel? no . They know where I stand on faith because of who I am - they know where and when to find me if they want to talk (and many have).
|
|
|
|
Post by coachweav88 on Apr 17, 2008 13:59:50 GMT -6
He provides opportunities for our players to connect w/ God, not mandatory. He is simply providing the opportunity. Would most of you agree with this, preaching in sports= bad being an example of your faith, providing non mandatory opportunities for players to connect with God= acceptable (or good depending on your viewpoint) |
|
|
|
Post by k on Apr 17, 2008 17:05:37 GMT -6
being an example of your faith, providing non mandatory opportunities for players to connect with God= acceptable (or good depending on your viewpoint) As long as "God" can equally be Jesus Christ, YHWH, Shiva, Allah, Thor, or even "Satan." |
|
|
|
Post by tigercoach on Apr 17, 2008 17:15:40 GMT -6
being an example of your faith, providing non mandatory opportunities for players to connect with God= acceptable (or good depending on your viewpoint) As long as "God" can equally be Jesus Christ, YHWH, Shiva, Allah, Thor, or even "Satan." What? |
|
|
|
Post by camppack on Apr 17, 2008 17:17:49 GMT -6
I've spent the last five years coaching in public schools while working full time as director of a very large youth and family ministry for an organization of almost 200 churches.
My approach has been to follow the advice of St Francis of Assisi who said "Preach the Gospel at all times. Use words if necessary." His point is that what we do is far more important than what we say. As a Christian I don't need to preach to kids to have an impact...I have to live out my faith.
My players have never heard me talk about my faith, Jesus or any other religious topic. They do however see how I deal with people, how I deal with them, how I react to situations, what language I use (or not use), etc. Some make the connection between how I act and my faith and if so that's great. If they don't...well it's still great because they've been exposed to a positive role model.
Regardless of whether we're Christians or not, if we expose kids to men of honesty, character, integrity, etc. we've made a difference in their lives.
|
|
|
|
Post by dubber on Apr 17, 2008 17:35:33 GMT -6
My approach has been to follow the advice of St Francis of Assisi who said "Preach the Gospel at all times. Use words if necessary." AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-  -MEN! |
|
|
|
Post by k on Apr 17, 2008 22:46:56 GMT -6
As long as "God" can equally be Jesus Christ, YHWH, Shiva, Allah, Thor, or even "Satan." What? Exactly what I said. |
|
|
|
Post by coachsky on Apr 18, 2008 8:12:11 GMT -6
I am a former Youth Leader and have worked with at risk adolescents for the past 15 years. I fully respect the role of public schools and religion and would not be comfortable with my own children being proselytized at school.
That being said, coaching is about relationships. Over the years I've had a lot of kids ask my for advice or guidance,. When that happens, the counsel they receive comes from the perspective of a believer, from someone who tries to follow Christ as best as I can. I have other kids on the team who I know are Christians, who know me as Christian. I will ask those boys to pray for and support another player that is struggling, that may need a friend.
I think we have to be models of character, integrity, and compassion to our players. When kids get a glimpse of that, they will occasionally ask where I get my strength from. I am never ashamed to tell them the truth; I tell them that I am a pretty weak person with a lot of faults, however the God I try to follow is steady and true. I tell them that God gives my life meaning and purpose.
I do this only when I am asked by a player. And that is always one of my prayers; let me be a light, let God's character reflect from me, so that I might have a chance to help a kid who needs God's touch. I am not trying to be Billy Graham of the Grid Iron, just trying to be available and helpful to young men in a pretty confusing world.
|
|
|
|
Post by fbdoc on Apr 18, 2008 8:52:22 GMT -6
coachsky - if you are ever in South Florida, look me up. You can coach on my team any time.
|
|
|
|
Post by CoachMikeJudy on Apr 18, 2008 9:40:07 GMT -6
Would most of you agree with this, preaching in sports= bad being an example of your faith, providing non mandatory opportunities for players to connect with God= acceptable (or good depending on your viewpoint) I agree preaching in sports is bad. Keep your religious viewpoints personal and to yourself unless approached by someone. I don't agree with providing those opportunities. As a leader of your program, you are segregating yourself from any non-practicing player on your squad by holding prayers. We need to do everything as a team- so if we're all not catholic, then we don't pray. We preach the one-team, one-heartbeat mentality, and to provide ways to divide the team would be counter-productive. If I coached/taught at a all-catholic private school then I would definitely feel more comfortable in providing these opportunities. |
|
billyn
Sophomore Member
Posts: 231
|
Post by billyn on Apr 18, 2008 13:02:15 GMT -6
I think everyone's personal belief system affects how they coach. I don't try to convert my players, but I hope they know that I care about them beyond what they can do for our team. I've watched some coaches who seemed to be more interested in how good they could look than what was good for their kids. I don't see how in a public school setting where athletics is meant to be a vehicle for kids to grow and mature as people that a coach who didn't have some kind of strong moral compass could really serve his players. The values we teach and exhibit to our kids are what will remain with them the longest.
|
|
|
|
Post by carson101 on Apr 18, 2008 15:06:38 GMT -6
I will not say GOD doesn't have a place on the football field, what I will say is if a kid wants to pray thats his choice. If we as coaches want to pray with them fine, i am all for if as I do do this myself. As far as preaching it is a whole different subject, I have seen scripture used to convey a point about the challenges kids face on the field I have also seen how it can be misused to sway a kids into believing differently. If it is to be that a coach is preaching something he shouldn't then he should be checked. I think this issue of church vs. state is a joke personally and I am not gonna shove GOD down someones throat. We have a right to decide on our own, knowing full well our intent. Saying that it is an individual choice not a democracy unless it is a school that has incorporated it into their program as I have seen with many Christian schools. GOD is with us however we choose to see him reguardless.
|
|
moball
Junior Member
Posts: 254
|
Post by moball on Apr 18, 2008 17:18:45 GMT -6
If you coach at a private school it might be part of your job description.
|
|
"Religion" today has been abused and I think even has a negative connotation to a certain degree, heck, I'm down on "religion". We have all had people tell us how we should be or live or do and then watch them drive to the bar or strip club, whatever and wonder "wow, he just told I shouldn't..." Bad deal all the way around. 
