Soccer Eagle

Who am I without soccer?
This is an article written for the United Soccer Coaches Association Faith Based Coaches Newsletter.

It was 10:15 am on the morning of Thursday, August 1st. The girls team at Christ Presbyterian Academy had just finished their morning training session and were in my classroom for our Sports Ministry Training time. This is a time that we spend as a squad talking about different subjects like identity, respecting authority, taming the tongue, etc.

This morning I opened up our time with a simple question:

“If you woke up tomorrow and you could never play soccer again, how would you react?”

The girls then split into groups and discussed it amongst themselves. After a few minutes, we came back together as a group and listened to some of their responses.

“While I like soccer, I absolutely love the team even more. I think I would miss that the most of all.”

“It wouldn't really affect me much, as soccer is just something I do to stay in shape.”

“I would absolutely be devastated as this is pretty much all I do year round.”

We spent a few more minutes discussing the topic of identity and how we usually think what we do is actually who we are.

Usually, these discussions are based on an injury or an illness causing a player to not be able to continue.

NEVER EVER did we think that soccer would be taken away from EVERYONE.

Fast forward to March 12, 2:45 pm. We are now in boys soccer season. We had just started our regular season this week with 2 wins over district opponents. We were coming off of a 20-2 record from last season and were gearing up for another great run.

There had been rumors about a virus from overseas and how some public schools around us had closed down the previous weekend for cleaning, but we didn’t think too much about it.

Our seniors had just left for their senior trip to Florida. We were gearing up for practice that afternoon. And then I got the call from my AD. “All athletic functions are to cease by 3:00 pm this afternoon and for the foreseeable future. Coaches, we will meet briefly to discuss.”

I had to send out a group text to tell the boys that practice this week was off. We were heading into spring break the next week, so we were hoping that things would get back to normal once this all blew over in a week or so.

We went on spring break, working out on our own, but checking in with the team to hold each other accountable. We were looking forward to getting back to practice.

We move forward once again to Wednesday, April 15 at 2:00 pm. The governor was about to have a press conference at 3:00. The captains of our team knew that this was going to be a big one, as he was addressing the rest of the school year. At this point 12 states had shut things down for the year. Tennessee had still left a small glimmer of hope of coming back in May.

College players had been sending us their spring workouts, and we were keeping in shape by continuing to exercise each day. We had Zoom meetings as a team, encouraging each other, still hoping that we could come back, and have a short season, but still have a playoff. But it all hinged on what Governor Lee was going to say in just a couple of minutes.

Then at 3:00 the Governor announced he was recommending that all schools be closed for the rest of the school year. We still had hope though, as the TSSAA had not officially cancelled sports. Then at 5:33 pm the TSSAA tweeted their press release: “All remaining TSSAA events for 2019-2020 including spring sports are cancelled.”

So that was it. No more soccer. No more practice. It was now official.

The seniors who last had their cleats and CPA uniform on that Tuesday, March 10, NEVER thought it would be the last time they stepped on that field. Our boys, who had been training all year to redeem their state final loss, are now devastated that it just can’t happen. Soccer is “gone.” Yes, they can still work out. Yes, they can kick a ball around and do footwork, but the SEASON is no more.

As a coach, I also struggled with how to train these boys remotely. How do I keep encouraging them? How do I keep them accountable to each other?

ALL of this is new to everyone.

So if they aren’t playing and I am not coaching, then who are we? If I believed that what I did as a job defined who I was as a man, then I am in a really bad place.

Am I what I have achieved? Because without the season, what can I achieve now?

If I am what I do, then I will always need to do more and achieve more to find my value. And now that I cannot “do” more soccer, then what is my value?

If I rely on what others think of how I perform, and I cannot perform in front of those people, how will I get my value?

For me, as a believer in Christ, while I take great pride in what I do, and I do find satisfaction in my achievements, it does not define me. What I do is NOT who I am.

I actually do not have to “DO” anything to achieve my identity.

Who I Am In Christ*

In Christ, I am accepted …

John 1:12 — I am God’s child.

John 15:15 — As a disciple, I am a friend of Jesus Christ.

Romans 5:1 — I have been justified.

1 Corinthians 6:17 — I am united with the Lord, and I am one with Him in spirit.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 — I have been bought with a price, and I belong to God.

1 Corinthians 12:27 — I am a member of Christ’s body.

Ephesians 1:3-8 — I have been chosen by God and adopted as His child.

Colossians 1:13-14 — I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins.

Colossians 2:9-10 — I am complete in Christ.

Hebrews 4:14-16 — I have direct access to the throne of grace through Jesus Christ.

In Christ, I am secure …

Romans 8:1-2 — I am free from condemnation.

Romans 8:28 — I am assured that God works for my good in all circumstances.

Romans 8:31-39 — I am free from any condemnation brought against me, and I cannot be separated from the love of God.

2 Corinthians 1:21-22 — I have been established, anointed, and sealed by God.

Colossians 3:1-4 — I am hidden with Christ in God.

Philippians 1:6 — I am confident that God will complete the good work He started in me.

Philippians 3:20 — I am a citizen of heaven.

2 Timothy 1:7 — I have not been given a spirit of fear but of power, love, and a sound mind.

1 John 5:18 — I am born of God, and the evil one cannot touch me.

In Christ, I am significant …

John 15:5 — I am a branch of Jesus Christ, the true vine and a channel of His life.

John 15:16 — I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit.

1 Corinthians 3:16 — I am God’s temple.

2 Corinthians 5:17-21 — I am a minister of reconciliation for God.

Ephesians 2:6 — I am seated with Jesus Christ in the heavenly realm.

Ephesians 2:10 — I am God’s workmanship.

Ephesians 3:12 — I may approach God with freedom and confidence.

Philippians 4:13 — I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.

Now, understand, I am heart-broken for my team, especially for my seniors. Their season is over on the field. HOWEVER, we have talked to the seniors and told them their jobs as leaders and mentors are not done. They still have a month to minister to the younger players on the squad, checking in on them daily, working out with them remotely, keeping their teammates encouraged in this tough time.

But their value as men has not been diminished one bit by this virus. Their impact on their younger teammates, while not in person, still has a huge effect.

Soccer is a finite activity. For everyone, there will come a time when we won’t be able to play this sport anymore.

So what are we really investing in? If my players leave my team as the best soccer players they could ever be, but I haven’t invested in them as young men and women off the pitch, then I have invested in something that is going to come to an end.

This morning, I received an email from a player that I coached in 2004-2007. This young man won 4 state titles in 4 years. He is no longer playing. He is a dad of 3. But he didn’t reach out to me to talk about soccer.

“I'm so grateful for that time and having a coach that put so much thought, effort, and prayer into building a Christ-like culture. Time has only shown me more so what a rarity that is. I'm glad that you're still investing in young people like you did with me and my teammates.”

So here we are: somewhere we thought we would never be, no soccer.

But here I stand, somewhere where I always knew I was, at the right hand of God, doing his work through that which he provides for me/asks of me. While we may not physically be on the field, I now know that his work has no location, his work has no boundaries, it has no limitations.

As my former player perfectly put it, “I’m glad you’re still investing in young people” and while the circumstances may look different, the mission remains the same.