MORE THAN
THE GAME.
ONE FAMILY.

Be strong and courageous! — Joshua 1:9 — NASB 1995 (excerpt; read passage)

Do what is right when it is hard — Handbook §2 — Courage (approved PDF, p. 5)

God charged Joshua to lead Israel faithfully under His word. Courage here rests on God’s command and presence, not confidence that we will win a game. For an athlete, courage includes doing what is right when it costs something.

For an athlete: Admit a foul or report an unsafe situation even when teammates might disagree.

For parents and coaches: Support an athlete who tells the truth or raises a safety concern. Do not pressure a child to hide an injury.

Reflect: What right thing do I need to do even though it is difficult?

Train up a child in the way he should go, — Proverbs 22:6 — NASB 1995 (excerpt; read passage)

Listen, learn, receive correction — Handbook §2 — Coachability (approved PDF, p. 5)

This proverb concerns the lasting importance of training a child in the right way. It is not a command to obey every coach without question, or a promise of athletic success. The Handbook applies its training emphasis to receiving and practicing sound instruction.

For an athlete: Listen to a correction about footwork, ask respectfully if unclear, and practice the change.

For parents and coaches: Teach patiently and consistently; explain a correction and model it. Keep instruction consistent with Scripture and safeguarding rules.

Reflect: What instruction have I heard but still need to put into practice?

Let us not lose heart in doing good, — Galatians 6:9 — NASB 1995 (excerpt; read passage)

Keep working through difficulty — Handbook §2 — Determination (approved PDF, p. 5)

Paul calls believers to persist in doing good in the context of sowing to the Spirit and serving others. His promised harvest is not a guarantee of points, trophies, or playing time. Keep choosing faithful effort when progress is slow.

For an athlete: After a mistake, return to the next play with honest effort instead of quitting on teammates.

For parents and coaches: Recognize steady effort and service, not only the scoreboard. Give recovery and injury concerns proper attention.

Reflect: Where can I keep doing good without needing immediate recognition?

afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. — Hebrews 12:11 — NASB 1995 (excerpt; read passage)

Practice self-control, prepare faithfully — Handbook §2 — Discipline (approved PDF, p. 5)

Hebrews describes God’s fatherly discipline and its righteous fruit. Athletic training can illustrate learning through correction, but a coach is not God and this passage never excuses abuse. Receive rightful correction, practice self-control, and prepare faithfully.

For an athlete: Arrive prepared and accept a fair consequence without blaming someone else.

For parents and coaches: Correct consistently and proportionately; explain the purpose and protect the athlete’s safety and dignity.

Reflect: Which daily habit would help me become more faithful and self-controlled?

Listen to counsel and accept discipline, — Proverbs 19:20–21 — NASB 1995 (excerpt; read passage)

Tell the truth, own mistakes — Handbook §2 — Honesty (approved PDF, p. 5)

These verses teach receiving counsel and recognizing that the Lord’s counsel stands above human plans. They do not directly state a rule about lying. The Handbook’s honesty application is to own mistakes and receive correction rather than manipulate facts to protect a personal plan.

For an athlete: Give an accurate account of what happened, including your own part, even if it brings correction.

For parents and coaches: Check facts, admit your own mistakes, and avoid exaggerating an incident or repeating a rumor.

Reflect: Am I telling the whole truth, or shaping the story to protect myself?

with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; — Philippians 2:3–4 — NASB 1995 (excerpt; read passage)

Put team and others before ego — Handbook §2 — Humility (approved PDF, p. 5)

Paul calls believers away from selfish ambition and empty conceit toward care for others, leading into Christ’s example. Humility is not pretending that skill or effort does not matter; it is refusing to make yourself the center.

For an athlete: Encourage a teammate who receives the opportunity you wanted and help with cleanup without being asked.

For parents and coaches: Give credit fairly, listen before defending your preference, and serve without seeking special treatment.

Reflect: Whose good can I put ahead of my own recognition today?