Leadership Thought: Shining the Light of Christ's Character in the Athletic Arena

Dear Friends,

Today we have lost many of the wonderful values that once characterized athletic competition. We have experienced cheating scandals and witnessed coaches and teams that will do almost anything to gain an advantage, even if it means skirting the rules to accomplish their goals.  

The sports' world is full of such  stories. Today some coaches teach their players to fake injuries on the field to stop the clock. Teams routinely spy on one another's practices to gain an upper hand. Winning at any cost has become the rule and no longer the exception, and as a coach and  longtime baseball umpire it troubles me, for I know the wonderful values  of respect and integrity athletics can promote. Something has been lost  today on the field and courts of competition, and it is the value of character development.

A year ago, I was the only umpire working a freshman high school baseball game, and I was working behind the plate when I got blocked out by the batter on a steal of third. I couldn't see the play and having to make a quick decision I guessed he was safe, but unfortunately, I guessed wrong , as he was clearly out.  Everyone - the fans, the players and the third base coach, knew I had blown the call and that the visiting team's runner was out and that I had unfortunately called him safe. I huddled up with the coaches, explained the situation, and while both coaches knew he was out, the third base coach said to me you called him safe, and you can't reverse the call. He was right technically, but I had hoped he would have enough integrity to acknowledge my mistake and admit his runner was out. Unfortunately, he did not do this.

To the credit of the home team's coach, also a teacher, he simply walked away disappointed in the opposing coach's attitude and unwillingness to see my mistaken call rectified. To his credit, he used the situation to teach his players that mistakes will happen on the field and in life, and that day those players learned a very valuable lesson in character development. 

On my way home after the game I thought of some of the values we sought to instill in our athletes while I was athletic director at Calvary Christian Academy in Fort Lauderdale.

I thought of Emma Kimso,  who was dribbling up the floor when she noticed the girl who was guarding her had fallen down. She calmly stopped her dribble, helped the girl up, and then picked up her dribble  and headed to the basket where she scored a layup. The official later said to me, "I had no. Idea what to do or what to call."

Some might scoff at such an act, and while admitting it might be a selfless action, they would say it  was completely out of place in the midst of  such competition. My answer to that would be that  we need more Emma Kimso's today. 

I long for those young people who, while giving their best in the sport they are playing, have not lost sight of the fact that "letting your light shine," means  just that- "letting your light shine,"  and that  "light shining" is never out of place, regardless of where it takes place.

Who won the game? I honestly don't remember and frankly I don't care.  All I want to remember is a young lady who for a short moment demonstrated the kind of behavior that makes me proud to have been a coach and athletic director. 

And then only a few days later our wrestling team continued to "let their light shine"  when team members  led two competitors to Christ. Two members of the Eagle team had learned how to share they faith and they witnessed to two opposing team members and led them in a prayer to receive Jesus Christ. How exciting to know that our athletes were integrally involved in God's spiritual harvest

And then I remember how we always had an opening prayer before every home game and how our basketball players would meet at center court following our games to pray with opposing team members, and how our football team would do the same.

I miss seeing or hearing about these kinds of examples today. 

May we be quick to remember that as fans, coaches and players, we need to emulate the quality of sportsmanship reflected in the lives of these young athletes who did not hide their lights under a bushel but in word and deed brightly shined forth the light of Christ's character as they modeled moral and spiritual character, something that is extremely rare in our sports' world today. May their tribe increase.

Yours in faith and friendship,

Tom