Tribes of Youth Workers I Want to Learn From: Coaches

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On August 1st, tens of thousands of whistles will blow on tens of thousands of practice fields on tens of thousands of American high school campuses. 

Two-a-days

In many states August 1st is the first day of fall practice for football. Beyond football, it marks the officially beginning for tons of other coaches of fall sports. (Yes, many sports actually go year-round. But each sports season has an official practice period.)

It wasn’t until I became a coach, volunteering with the high school golf team, that I noticed something amazing: The vast majority of coaches were doing it, not for love of sport, but for love of developing teenagers. And a big chunk of them were Christian men and women.

In other words– these are youth workers who aren’t called youth workers by church-based youth workers, but totally are.

Most coaches, outside of the head coach for a sport, don’t get any payment. Maybe they get their travel covered or even a tiny stipend, but it’s truly a labor of love. We, as the church, don’t systematically lift their ministries up. Instead, I know a lot of youth pastors who actually can’t stand coaches because they feel like tennis or soccer or cheerleading or band pull their best students away from being involved in the youth ministry. It gets to the root of a lack-of-coordination and lack-of-communication which tears at the fabric of students’ faith.

But in my gut I know we can do better. Our tribes just need to know one another better. 

I want to learn from high school coaches. I think the church-based youth ministry tribe would be richer if we learned from all types of youth workers, not just those who work in traditional church-based contexts.

So, if you’re a coach who coaches as a ministry– whether in a stated way or in an intrinsic way, I’m saying I’d like to learn from you.

Help me connect your tribe with my tribe. 

Photo credit: K.M. Klemencic via Flickr (Creative Commons)

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One response to “Tribes of Youth Workers I Want to Learn From: Coaches”

  1. Ray Hausler Avatar

    I spent 11 years coaching high school track & cross country while serving as the lead volunteer in my home church youth ministry. Then I went to bible school. I still contend today that I learned more about youth ministry from the head track coach (who was also the head football coach) than I did from my classes about ministry.

    These are people who spend 2-3 hours a day (at least) six days a week with students. And that doesn’t even count the time many of them spend in the classroom.

    I’m thankful that today the church that employs me as a youth worker has allowed and encouraged me to coach at our local high school.

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