Youth Sports as a Gift
Youth sports are a gift. Over the years, it has been a great blessing for our family to be involved in youth sports. We have spent countless hours on ballfields, in gyms, driving to sporting events and spending time with friends around these events. As with any gift of God, we can steward it well, we can take it for granted, or we can turn it into an idol. 1 Corinthians 10:31 says, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” So how do we glorify God in our child’s participation in youth sports?
Here are a few categories that have helped my wife and I over the years as we have sought to be good stewards of our kids' involvement in youth sports…
Gratitude
It is so important for us to cultivate gratitude regularly in life. Our default in life can easily be worry, frustration, or cynicism. This is no different in youth sports. We want to be grateful for the physical health that God has given our kids to be able to play sports. I am not speaking of “elite abilities to dominate the competition” here (btw this is not the case for our kids), but rather simple gratitude that our kids are able to be on the field running around. We don’t want to take the blessing of physical health for granted. We also seek to be grateful as we carpool kids to practices and games. Rather than be frustrated or inconvenienced by driving across town to take my son to basketball practice three times per week, I should be grateful for the 30 minutes of uninterrupted time in the car with him to hang out. Regularly taking moments to be thankful will change the way you view your kids' sports. Instead of worrying about whose team they are on or how they are performing, just be grateful to God that they have the opportunity to play sports. Just enjoy watching them play.
Discipleship
Sports provide a great opportunity for discipling our kids. We want them to know and apply God’s word in all areas of life, including their sports. For example, one of my favorite passages is Isaiah 41:13, “For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear I will help you.” If my son or daughter is nervous before a sporting event, we talk about this passage. God doesn’t promise to help them score a game winner, but He does promise to be with them, therefore they can have courage to go out and play.
We want our kids to experience God’s love and grace during their sports. The role of parents in this is huge. It is so important for us to model God’s love to our children. God’s love is not based on our performance. God’s love is steadfast and his mercies are new every morning. Not only do we want our children to know this, but we want them to experience it. How do they experience it? Often what initially shapes a child's view of God is their parents. Love them because they are your child, not based on how they did in the game.
Sports are also a great way to develop Christian character. Here are a few of the most common themes that have emerged as our kids have played sports.
Confidence - We mostly seek to emphasize their Identity in Christ here. We are not seeking to instill confidence based on their skill level but confidence because God loves them and is with them.
Servanthood - We want our kids to look not only to their own interests but the interests of others. Is there a teammate who is discouraged or being left out? Go encourage that person. Does the coach need help picking up cones after practice? Help pick up cones.
Resilience - Life will be filled with wins and losses… not just on the field. It is important for our kids to be able to navigate challenges within a game or a season without losing their hope or ability to continue on. Building “internal muscles” for resilience in sports can develop into resilience in life.
Perseverance - When practice is hard or a season is hard, it is important to keep showing up. God is with us, so we can preserve and do hard things. As our kids have gotten older, sports have come with workouts, off seasons, and conditioning. These things are not always fun. It is important for them to know that sports aren’t always going to be easy and fun. Neither is life.
Mission
Sports are among the most strategic opportunities a family has to engage in the Great Commission. Think about this… God has placed your child on a sports team with 10-15 other families. Depending on where you play, these families may be from different neighborhoods, socioeconomic status’ and religious background. Not only are you on this team, but you are often with these families for significant amounts of time, sitting in close proximity, with a common interest.
In Matthew 9:35-38, Jesus saw the crowds as harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd. What if Christians saw the athletic field as a mission field? What if Christians viewed themselves as Christ’s ambassadors on the sidelines?
Try these simple steps and see how God could use your family in his mission this season:
Commit to praying for unchurched people on your teams.
Host a team gathering after practice or a game to build relationships.
Share your testimony with another parent on the team.
Invite a family to church or have your child invite a teammate to a youth group.
Your kids won’t play sports forever. The season of life you are in is a gift from God. Don’t neglect it, wish it away, or idolize it. Steward the moments God has given you by cultivating gratitude, making the most of discipleship opportunities, and engaging in God’s mission on the sideline. You won’t regret it.