Game Changers #2 - Humility

I love the potential for growth and development that sport offers individuals. Many times, the growth and development that gets the most attention has to do with only two dimensions of the Total Athlete - the body and mind. However, I believe the third dimension (soul) is most important, but it receives the least amount of practice. The number one place sports gets it wrong is with teaching and embracing the character attribute humility.

Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but rather thinking of yourself less. The sports culture tends to encourage the exact opposite - pride. Locker rooms are littered with quotes and signs referring to pride. Coaches instruct players that pride is an essential ingredient to success. Athletes, fans and parents can be seen wearing clothing with the word pride boasted across the chest or back as if pride is expected.

Humility and meekness are the antithesis of pride. When pride is all about self, humility is about others. Pride swanks in self-reliant strength, meekness takes joy in harnessing strength under the control of a Master. Pride tells an individual that he/she is a big deal, but he/she is not.

As a result, sports has become a vehicle that has schooled young athletes out of the Kingdom of God. The only thing God says disqualifies one from his Kingdom is pride. To enter the Kingdom, one must first be humble. Teaching our athletes about humility is not optional.

I champion the virtue of humility in my athletes for many reasons. The most important one, however, is so that they can put their pride aside for the Glory of God. If they're already Christ followers, humility is essential to spiritual growth. If they're still searching for truth on their faith journey, humility is crucial in order to cross the line of faith.

I occaisionally wear an O.C. Supertones t-shirt to practice. They're one of my favorite bands from college. Quoting a popular song of theirs, the back of my shirt says, "Let my pride fall down. I'm a little man." I love that reminder.

I strive to be humble. While communicating with athletes, parents or my own family, I try to put on humility, thinking of myself less and of others more. No one is above anything and we all have the capacity to be wrong and do wrong, so it's important for me to act and respond with a humble spirit.

Next to God, I have adopted humility as the second most important priority in my life, followed closely by my family. My prayer is this: "God, please allow me to be humble so you don't have to humble me."

Game Changers #1 - Education

I haven't been able to create a hierarchy of the events or moments that have made the most impact in my life. They all seem to have significant places. Without a doubt, towards the very top is education.

I'm not referring to my elementary, middle school, high school or college days as much as I am the days that have followed the times in the class room. I like to consider myself a life long learner and I'm constantly seeking wise council on decisions and watching others. Instead of trying to learn everything from one person, I try to learn one thing from every person. If I'm only learning from one person, I'm becoming a replica of someone else. God is a creator, not a duplicator, and He's provided others to help me become who I'm created to be.

As a wrestling coach, I search for opportunities to become more educated on a daily basis. I watch competitions and technique videos, read about training concepts and theories, listen to talks on leadership, focus on my personal faith journey and deliberately pick the brain of colleagues and other wise men and women. It doesn't happen by accident; it's all very intentional.

Being educated properly doesn't just happen to you, you have to make the choice to pursue it. Once you pursue it, you must act on it.