Spiritual Goals
1. Participation for God’s Glory
Whether then you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
I Corinthians 10:31
The Christian athlete must realize that all things should be done for God’s glory. The scriptures teach that God is glorified when Christians seek to please Him in their actions, attitudes, reactions, speech, and thoughts. The Christian athlete’s goal is to glorify God by performing as Christ would perform as a member of a sports team.
Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord, rather than for man.
Colossians 3:23
The Christian athlete can glorify God by performing to the best of his ability at all times. To do less than one’s best is to dishonor God. The Christian athlete’s goal is to glorify God by giving 100 percent to become the best possible team player he/she can be.
2. Being a witness for Christ
Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
Matthew 5:16
The Christian athlete can also glorify Christ by being a witness of Christ’s saving grace.
An athlete who performs respectfully with good sportsmanship displays the power that Christ has given him over sin. The goal of the Christian athlete is to be an effective witness by exhibiting self-control, teamwork, and good sportsmanship.
Let no man look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.
I Timothy 4:12
Social Goals
1. Teamwork
The goal of the true team player is to realize that games will be won by team effort, not by individual performance.
Sports provide an opportunity for individuals to learn to work together as a team. Individuals should perform unselfishly, developing genuine meekness as he/she looks beyond himself for the good of the team.
2. Leadership
The goal of a leader is to live by example in a spirit of service to those around him.
An athlete is naturally viewed as a leader in the school. As a leader, each athlete is expected to maintain a high standard of conduct before the Lord and in the sight of the student body. Leadership is developed within each player as he/she sees his/her duty to live above reproach.
3. Responsibility
The goal of a responsible athlete is to be a useful part of the team.
Success in athletics requires a measure of personal responsibility on the part of each player. Each team member is responsible to be appropriate in action, healthy in body, positive in attitude, prepared for practice, and committed to the team.
4. Attitude
The goal of a member with a good attitude is to encourage others with positive, uplifting statements and to react in a proper manner, not letting circumstances dictate his/her feelings.
Team members should maintain a positive, right attitude at all times, even when things are not going well. Negative, cutting, or derogatory remarks serve only to demoralize a team.
Physical Goals
1. Personal Fitness
The goal for each team member should be to establish and to maintain a healthy level of physical fitness.
Participation in athletics provides a means for team members to learn the benefits of physical fitness.
2. Self-Discipline
The goal of each athlete should be to discipline himself, to eat properly, and get adequate rest and exercise.
Becoming physically fit requires self-discipline. The successful athlete will discipline himself to take care of the body God has given him.