Successful athletic programs start with quality coaches. We believe coaches are one of the most significant components to the athletic program and therefore seek to hire Christian role models who are committed to fulfilling the mission of the school, desire to disciple our student-athletes and serve their families, and who are knowledgeable in their sport.
Each coach is prayerfully and thoughtfully considered, recruited, interviewed and hired and therefore has authority over the student-athletes in each given sport. Parents and student-athletes must trust that coaches try to make the best decisions for the team as well as the individuals that make up the team. Coaches are with the team daily in practice and in competition, evaluating character and performance, and therefore make judgment decisions based on what they feel is in the best interest of the team. Playing time, players’ positions and strategy should be left to the discretion of the coach. Parents should help their student understand that being a team member means accepting the coach’s decisions even when he or she does not agree with them.
It is also important to remember that neither coaches nor parents are infallible evaluators of talent, nor are perfect play-callers. A team does not function well with non-coaches trying to coach. Parents should not place a child in a tough spot of deciding whether to listen to the coach or his or her parent. Yielding to authority is a biblical lesson that students benefit from for years to come.
The coach’s classroom is the court or field, usually with undefined walls, making it easy for parents to naturally move close to the action. Parents should be interested, supportive observers from a distance. The coach needs room to instruct and the players to perform without distraction from the stands. Distraction only yields poor results.