I coach soccer. It is something I love to do...and honestly I think I do a decent job of it.
I am also a youth pastor. I love doing this as well...I might not be real good at it, but I like it.
My dilemma lies in the understanding of how Christianity fits into the sports world.
I had a youth pastor growing up, who did not like the sport of hockey due to its retaliatory nature. I had acquaintances in college who were adamantly pacifistic, but were some of the most aggressive and physically dominating players (of which they were unable to see their own hypocrisy).
The other day during soccer practice, I taught our kids to body up and play aggressive. I showed them how a short tug on a jersey can give you an advantage and how putting your shoulder into a offender can bump him off the ball. Parents have called or emailed me concerning these teachings; upset with my desire for their kids to play aggressively.
Granted there is a major difference between playing aggresively and playing dirty. Swiping the knees, elbows to the head, and chopping ankles is not something I condone; however, aggresively is the only way to play the game.
We play high school soccer (we don't have enough high schoolers to play so we move some Jr. Highers up)! I treat them like high schoolers for this very reason: we play high school teams; at team will not ask you for your birth certificate prior to game and then decide to play easy on you.
Here in lies the fantasy aspect. In a perfect world everyone would get to play equal amounts; everyone would not have to work very hard; and everyone would have a good time. These are called rec leagues. This is high school soccer. The fantasy is over! Kids get run over in games. If you don't believe there is contact in soccer, why put shin guards on.
Society's mantra is this: "Comfort is our aim." Comfortable is believing that soccer is a non contact sport. Comfortable is telling your child that if he gets tired to set out. Comfortable is begging for playing time, when you aren't showing up to practice. Comfortable is telling yourself that you have no chance of winning just because you have Jr. Highers on the team. Comfortable is talking about how we at least did our best, when we weren't even close to trying our hardest.
Comfortable is an excuse to remain the same.
Christianity has missed the boat in the past concerning athletics. Phrases like "turn the other cheek" have become fodder for being a throw rug for opponents. I had a coach in college who wanted us to consider every opponent better than ourselves (even though the only one in our conference better than us was Manhattan) in lieu of Philippians.
It was obvious that Paul did not condemn sports...instead he used them as an example of work ethic and perseverance; aggressiveness and team work. You strive to take the uncomfortable out of sports and you cut the legs off of the very thing Paul was trying to say.
I am also a youth pastor. I love doing this as well...I might not be real good at it, but I like it.
My dilemma lies in the understanding of how Christianity fits into the sports world.
I had a youth pastor growing up, who did not like the sport of hockey due to its retaliatory nature. I had acquaintances in college who were adamantly pacifistic, but were some of the most aggressive and physically dominating players (of which they were unable to see their own hypocrisy).
The other day during soccer practice, I taught our kids to body up and play aggressive. I showed them how a short tug on a jersey can give you an advantage and how putting your shoulder into a offender can bump him off the ball. Parents have called or emailed me concerning these teachings; upset with my desire for their kids to play aggressively.
Granted there is a major difference between playing aggresively and playing dirty. Swiping the knees, elbows to the head, and chopping ankles is not something I condone; however, aggresively is the only way to play the game.
We play high school soccer (we don't have enough high schoolers to play so we move some Jr. Highers up)! I treat them like high schoolers for this very reason: we play high school teams; at team will not ask you for your birth certificate prior to game and then decide to play easy on you.
Here in lies the fantasy aspect. In a perfect world everyone would get to play equal amounts; everyone would not have to work very hard; and everyone would have a good time. These are called rec leagues. This is high school soccer. The fantasy is over! Kids get run over in games. If you don't believe there is contact in soccer, why put shin guards on.
Society's mantra is this: "Comfort is our aim." Comfortable is believing that soccer is a non contact sport. Comfortable is telling your child that if he gets tired to set out. Comfortable is begging for playing time, when you aren't showing up to practice. Comfortable is telling yourself that you have no chance of winning just because you have Jr. Highers on the team. Comfortable is talking about how we at least did our best, when we weren't even close to trying our hardest.
Comfortable is an excuse to remain the same.
Christianity has missed the boat in the past concerning athletics. Phrases like "turn the other cheek" have become fodder for being a throw rug for opponents. I had a coach in college who wanted us to consider every opponent better than ourselves (even though the only one in our conference better than us was Manhattan) in lieu of Philippians.
It was obvious that Paul did not condemn sports...instead he used them as an example of work ethic and perseverance; aggressiveness and team work. You strive to take the uncomfortable out of sports and you cut the legs off of the very thing Paul was trying to say.
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