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.
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.
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