You make the choice

Every year, kids have to choose between travel teams, AAU teams and HS. Now throw in family events, sweet 16's Proms, etc.

One thing I never messed with as a coach was God!

While searching on material to read about HS Sports, I came across this blog and article about a coach and his terms on missing practice:

Remember - THIS IS HIS VIEW, NOT MINE, I am just copying for your reading enjoyment:


From: Despising none: Joe Ball

"There is an interesting article in today's Courier Journal. A High School Volleyball player was told by her coach when she ask about missing practice to attend a national youth convention with her church, that she would "have to pick between being on the squad her senior year or going to the convention in Orlando, citing a policy in which players would be dropped from the team if they missed practice."
To read the entire article click here.

According to the article, "two other students on the team were being allowed to participate in the Governor's Scholars Program."
And that is the kicker. The student and her parents pleaded that by allowing the students to miss to attend the Governor's Scholar Program and to not allow her to miss for a religious event amounted to religious discrimination.

The lawyer for the school board said: "the coach was violating a long-established district wide policy against religious discrimination and she
advised him to reverse his decision, which he did. "

Everyday Christians have to make faith based decisions that have sometimes monumental consequences. Students are no different. And it isn't always religious discrimination when we are persecuted for our faith.

When we don't get the promotion, make the team; get invited to the party and such. It is the results of leading a Christian life. Scripture teaches this.

The religious discrimination did not occur when she choose to go to the national youth convention with her church. That was a free choices based on her faith, and the opportunities placed before her. Should the coach be accommodating, sure? But the nature of athletic competition and the demand we place on coaches to win doesn't lend itself to that. The discrimination occurs when the other students were allowed to miss for the Governor's Scholar Program and not be removed from the team.
Every year this scenario is played out on athletic teams all across Kentucky.

Students must choose between church camp and sports practice. We as youth ministers know this. That is why most of us do not schedule events for high schoolers in July. We can accommodate our students and partner with our schools and parents in this issue.

Hang in there college and real life is coming soon enough. "

Note: The above views were copy and pasted from another blog for your reading. They are only here to provoke thought, not to ensue or provoke a opinion or discussion.