As a coach, you have a lot of questions as you start a new season.
- Who is on my team?
- What do I need to practice on with my team?
- When do I practice?
- Who will be my Team Parent?
Lots of questions, some more important than others – particularly the one about the Team Parent!
However, there is a more important question. In fact, this question is the most important question for any coach as he or she enters a season. That question is
“Why am I coaching?”
Pastor Rick Warren says, “Why is always the most important question?”
Asking the question, “Why am I coaching is important for several reasons?”
- Asking why gets me looking beyond my coaching actions into my motivations for coaching. (Remember Jesus’ harshest words were for those who did the right thing for the wrong reason.)
- Asking why gets me looking at the difference between some good and ultimate motivations or reasons for coaching. (Tim Keller says idolatry happens when we make a good thing an ultimate thing.)
- Asking why gets me to think beyond my good reasons to the the ultimate reason by stirring me to ask – “Why does God want me to coach?”
The answer to this question – “Why does God want me to coach?” can be found in 1Corinthians 10:31 – “So whether you eat of drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” The ultimate reason for coaching is to glorify God – to spread the fame of God in this world by displaying his multifaceted character as you coach.
Every other good reason is subordinate to this ultimate one. Every other good reason, like spending time with my children or investing in the lives of others, finds value only as an extension of this ultimate one.
Amazingly, there is not one activity in coaching outside of this call. “Whatever you do…” as a coach should be done for this purpose – to see the greatness of God acknowledged wider and deeper as others see you coach.
Think about what might happen if in fact you carried this reason for your coaching throughout the season and into every practice and game. Better yet, think about what might happen if every one of your players and their parents embraced this purpose for their playing or spectating this season after you taught it to them.
What would happen? Nothing less than the spread of the movement God is up to toward the redemption of sports.
Want to join? Just begin to ask yourself the most important question for a coach.
About the Author
Bob Schindler has worked at CSO since 2003. Prior to coming to CSO, Bob worked as a pastor for 18 years - eight as an Associate Pastor in Leadership Development, Outreach, and Youth, and ten as a church planter and Senior Pastor. Before vocational ministry, Bob worked in business for six years in sales and marketing and corporate training and played professional golf for four years. He still has an interest in golf but would most of the time rather play basketball or rock climb or kayak - something more active than golf. He and his wife, Beth, have four grown "kids" and one very precious grandson.