Adelfos means "brother" in Greek and was also our theme for the beginning of the year retreat earlier this week. In the attempt of creating a family, we asked our athletes to accept each other as brothers. I wanted to teach them what this meant... not just say it and expect it to magically happen! This is what I taught them...
If you want to create a family, you have to die to your self and live in your other family members. The example I can give our athletes is easy. Come to practice focused and ready to give maximum effort, not for your own glory but the glory of the team. No matter who's reading this, you can apply this to yourself. Are you dying to your self... for the people you love?
In my own life: As a husband, do I do the dishes and laundry when my wife asks me to? As a coach, do I prepare for every practice like I should? As a friend, do I pray constantly for what my friends need prayer for? As a son and brother, do I visit and keep up with my family constantly?
Love is hard work. It is not easy to die to your self for the well being of someone else. That is part of what makes love so special. Not everyone is willing to be great at it. Luckily, as Christians, we have the best example to learn from. (thank you jesus!)
Adelfos = Brother = Family = Love. As thousands of teams across the country worry and fret over an undefeated season, this is what I will be praying and coaching upon.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Foundations of a vision
Thank you to everybody who was involved and attended our spring football showcase last Saturday. What a great way to end spring football! As we wrap up off-season football and approach summer workouts we've had numerous newcomers to the program including a few transfers and our incoming freshman athletes. I thought it would be appropriate to discuss the foundations of our vision.
"Where there is no vision, the people perish" Proverbs 29:18
Since we’ve been meeting for the last few months our athletes know our vision is to LOVE, LEAD & COMPETE. I’ve had three things on my mind when thinking about the programs overall vision.
1) Start with the end in mind
If our athletes carry out the vision of our football program, they will transform into individuals who care about the person they are. Not only the person they currently are but also the person they will become down the road, especially when they become husbands and fathers. The belief and hope that this will happen is the very core of teaching our athletes to Love, lead and compete.
2) Clearly communicated and simplified path
Our vision is clear cut and to the point. Although what were asking our athletes to achieve is not easy (characteristics of how to love, be a selfless leader and compete with great work ethic) they will always know what we are asking of them. The decision to carry it out is up to the individual self.
3) We want changed hearts not blind obedience
The day will come, like all parents know, when their children will leave the house and transform into a young adult who has to make their own decisions. Obviously parents want their kids to make smart choices. If choices are always made for kids without teaching them the why behind the choices, we’ll have blind obedience not changed hearts. Our football program does not only consist of learning football plays, hitting the weight room and running sprints. We also include classroom sessions where we talk about things other than football. We will have guest speakers. And we will take every chance we can get to carry out our vision and teach our kids what it practically means to love, lead and compete.
Once again, remember...
"Where there is no vision, the people perish" Proverbs 29:18
"Where there is no vision, the people perish" Proverbs 29:18
Since we’ve been meeting for the last few months our athletes know our vision is to LOVE, LEAD & COMPETE. I’ve had three things on my mind when thinking about the programs overall vision.
1) Start with the end in mind
If our athletes carry out the vision of our football program, they will transform into individuals who care about the person they are. Not only the person they currently are but also the person they will become down the road, especially when they become husbands and fathers. The belief and hope that this will happen is the very core of teaching our athletes to Love, lead and compete.
2) Clearly communicated and simplified path
Our vision is clear cut and to the point. Although what were asking our athletes to achieve is not easy (characteristics of how to love, be a selfless leader and compete with great work ethic) they will always know what we are asking of them. The decision to carry it out is up to the individual self.
3) We want changed hearts not blind obedience
The day will come, like all parents know, when their children will leave the house and transform into a young adult who has to make their own decisions. Obviously parents want their kids to make smart choices. If choices are always made for kids without teaching them the why behind the choices, we’ll have blind obedience not changed hearts. Our football program does not only consist of learning football plays, hitting the weight room and running sprints. We also include classroom sessions where we talk about things other than football. We will have guest speakers. And we will take every chance we can get to carry out our vision and teach our kids what it practically means to love, lead and compete.
Once again, remember...
"Where there is no vision, the people perish" Proverbs 29:18
Friday, May 13, 2011
Best self=Better team
One of our three pillars in the Western Christian Football program is COMPETE. This will be the focus of spring ball 2011 which begins May 31st and ends June 11th.
We already talk a lot about competing against our best self. Our athletes know they should be focused on improving themselves on a day to day basis. This is something we will coach in the weight room while the athletes continue to get stronger, during speed and agility drills so we can become faster, and on the football field so we will have football players who are improving at their individual position(s).
While we will focus on individual competition, or competing against our best self, it is vitally important that our athletes understand why they are trying so hard to improve themselves. There main motivation and focus on improving themselves should not be for personal gratification. WE ARE ASKING THEM TO DO THIS SO OUR TEAM WILL BECOME BETTER. When our motivation for doing what we do on any given day becomes larger than our self, great things will begin to happen.
Paul speaks of competition in 1 Corinthians. “Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly”
Paul is telling us when we do something, be focused on why we are doing it. What is the end result? Below we have stated what we want our end result to be as a football program, the motivation and reason for improving our best self as individuals. Western Christians goals for the 2011 football season are the following:
1. Beat Ontario Christian
2. Win the Ambassador League
3. Make the Div. 12 CIF playoffs
It is very evident what Paul’s says his intentions are when he does something. His intentions/end result is to always further the Kingdom of Heaven. Although our goals as a football program are to beat Ontario Christian, win league and go to the playoffs, the end result of EVERYTHING we do as a football program is to glorify our Father in Heaven.
As we teach our football players to compete in this program, they are practicing what it means to truly compete in everything they do, now in the present and later on in their future lives. The day will come when our athletes become business men, teachers, or police officers. The day will come when our athletes are husbands and fathers. Will these young men be prepared to compete with their best self when they meet those challenges? More importantly, as Christians, will our athletes understand that it is not easy to further the Kingdom of Heaven and we must work at it, always competing at it and not walking around aimlessly like Paul mentions?
Love-Lead-COMPETE
We already talk a lot about competing against our best self. Our athletes know they should be focused on improving themselves on a day to day basis. This is something we will coach in the weight room while the athletes continue to get stronger, during speed and agility drills so we can become faster, and on the football field so we will have football players who are improving at their individual position(s).
While we will focus on individual competition, or competing against our best self, it is vitally important that our athletes understand why they are trying so hard to improve themselves. There main motivation and focus on improving themselves should not be for personal gratification. WE ARE ASKING THEM TO DO THIS SO OUR TEAM WILL BECOME BETTER. When our motivation for doing what we do on any given day becomes larger than our self, great things will begin to happen.
Paul speaks of competition in 1 Corinthians. “Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly”
Paul is telling us when we do something, be focused on why we are doing it. What is the end result? Below we have stated what we want our end result to be as a football program, the motivation and reason for improving our best self as individuals. Western Christians goals for the 2011 football season are the following:
1. Beat Ontario Christian
2. Win the Ambassador League
3. Make the Div. 12 CIF playoffs
It is very evident what Paul’s says his intentions are when he does something. His intentions/end result is to always further the Kingdom of Heaven. Although our goals as a football program are to beat Ontario Christian, win league and go to the playoffs, the end result of EVERYTHING we do as a football program is to glorify our Father in Heaven.
As we teach our football players to compete in this program, they are practicing what it means to truly compete in everything they do, now in the present and later on in their future lives. The day will come when our athletes become business men, teachers, or police officers. The day will come when our athletes are husbands and fathers. Will these young men be prepared to compete with their best self when they meet those challenges? More importantly, as Christians, will our athletes understand that it is not easy to further the Kingdom of Heaven and we must work at it, always competing at it and not walking around aimlessly like Paul mentions?
Love-Lead-COMPETE
Monday, February 7, 2011
Love - Lead - Compete
It is with much thankfulness that I have accepted the head coaching position at Western Christian High School in Upland, CA. I'm excited about numerous things but I will list three things I am most excited about it. First and foremost I'm excited to build a program that will influence student/athletes lives forever. We can teach things within this football program that will impact the decisions these kids make for the rest of their lives. #2, i'm excited to build a great staff of coaches. I have the opportunity and challenge of finding coaches who want to be great examples to the kids off the field and great teachers of the game on the field. #3, i'm excited to play great football! attention to detail, not afraid of impact, great work ethic!
Here is a list of things that have to happen in order for this program to succeed.
1. Coaches and players have to learn how to LOVE. Developing relationships will be the most important thing in our program.
2. Coaches and players have to learn how to be selfless. Our greatest example of this is Jesus dying on the cross for everyone.
3. Coaches and players have to attack each day with great attention to detail, great work ethic, and great enthusiasm. If we approach each day in this way throughout spring practice, summer workouts, and fall two-a-days, our season will be more successful.
LANCER FOOTBALL!
LOVE - LEAD - COMPETE!
Here is a list of things that have to happen in order for this program to succeed.
1. Coaches and players have to learn how to LOVE. Developing relationships will be the most important thing in our program.
2. Coaches and players have to learn how to be selfless. Our greatest example of this is Jesus dying on the cross for everyone.
3. Coaches and players have to attack each day with great attention to detail, great work ethic, and great enthusiasm. If we approach each day in this way throughout spring practice, summer workouts, and fall two-a-days, our season will be more successful.
LANCER FOOTBALL!
LOVE - LEAD - COMPETE!
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