Training Session #2- HOW DO I DO THIS?

Objectives

  1. To establish how you define your identity and love being the motivation and foundation for our work.

  2. To evaluate yourself according to the attributes presented - identifying areas of needed growth and developing a strategy for pursuing growth.

  3. To value and articulate opportunities for relationships, attitude, and presence.

  4. To know key personnel, become proficient at programming, and excellent at the skills required on a college campus.

equipment

Download Note Sheet

Workout

Watch the following videos and answer the associated discussion questions:

Videos for FCA Collegiate Ministry

South Australian chaplains Brandon Chaplin, Mark Purser and Roger Johnson talk about how, and why, they serve as volunteers at their clubs.

Discussion Questions

  1. Who or what has historically told you “who you are”? How have you seen “fear of man” or “approval of man” play itself out in your life or your work as a Sports Chaplain or Character Coach? Emily shared several truths from Scripture - which ones can you apply to your life and work? How?

  2. When exploring Cede’s description of Characteristics one must possess- why do you suppose they chose these eight? Which ones will be vital for you to maintain or grow in?

  3. Once you know who you are, you can press faithfully into what to do with confidence. Roger practically outlines relationships to pursue, attitudes to possess, and how to be present. What relationships are available for you to pursue now? How can you build those relationships more fully? What attitudes did Roger mention that you need to be aware of? When would be strategic times (both tangible times as well as formative moments) for you to be present?

  4. The Chaplains in this video speak to the value they bring to the clubs they serve. Brainstorm all the various issues you think you may have to help sportspeople navigate. Which ones do you feel equipped to help with and which ones might you need to gain more knowledge or skill in? What are some practical habits you can form that will help you be that neutral, trusted Chaplain that meets their needs?

Replay

When you know who you are, you’ll know what to do.

Our identity MUST flow from who God says that we are. Our ability to walk calmly into challenging circumstances is full dependent on this. Cede outlines several must-have characteristics of a Sports Minister. Essentially they are a natural by-product of a hungry and humble Sports Chaplain/Character Coach who knows who they are and is willing to be taught by the Holy Spirit and wise counsel.

From this solid foundation we can truly be aware of the three primary pinciples necessary to to serve effectively as a Character Coach or Sports Chaplain: Relationships, Attitude, and Presence. We work this out through the personnel we serve, the events that support those relationships, and the skills needed to implement programs and steward relationships well.

  • Relationships- Head Coach, Athletic Trainers/Strength Coaches, Athlete Leaders, Freshmen, Injured, Administrators, Support Staff (academics, nutrition, mental health, compliance, etc)

  • Attitude- Humility, NOT a fan, patience, trustworthy confidant, competitive drive, coach’s goals for the season, performance over winning

  • Presence- Before/at the end of practice, after a loss, in the lunch room/weight room/training room

Lastly, SCA Chaplains explain the value we can then uniquely bring to an Athletic Department or Sports Team.

Lab

Shadow a Sports Chaplain/Character Coach for a day. Observe how they interact with people and their attitude in general. Think about the following questions during your time with them:

  • How are they present and “around enough to be relevant” to the people they serve?

  • What “awkward” situations did/might they encounter and how did they navigate it?

  • Why did they handle situations in the way that they did?

Take time to interview them afterwards and/or interview a sports chaplain/character coach veteran if you had a more negative experience. Potential questions to ask are, but are not limited to:

  • What is the easiest/most difficult thing about this job?

  • What “lessons learned” they have that they could share with you?

  • What do they consider to be best practices?

  • What are mistakes you have made that I could learn from?

  • What are some “must have” and “can’t stand” traits that you believe I must have or grow in to do this with excellence?

Debrief

Write a reflection on your shadowing experience and your interview that details what you learned. Turn in here.

Overtime

  1. Video: Head, Heart, Hands (4:24)- What do we need to KNOW, what VALUES must we possess, and what SKILLS must we hone to steward the personnel and programs entrusted to us in a collegiate athletic department?

  2. Experience: Read your job description and consider what you can add to or edit within it that will help you grow in the areas of Head/Relationships, Heart/Attitudes, and Hands/Skills you will need. Detail what you will “expect” of yourself as well as how you will “inspect” it.

  3. One Page PDFs: Athletes In Action’s “6 Things a Coach Thinks and Feels But May Never Say” and “10 Things the Athlete Would Like You to Know But May Never Tell You”

  4. Books: Who are we? Exploring our Christian Identity- Henri Nouwen