Pros
update
11 Jan 07
The Core Skills of the Christian Sportsperson
Really it sounds too easy… the newly appointed England rugby coach Brian Ashton said that his answer to reverse the team’s decline is “the players need to develop higher skill levels in all the core areas”. It sounds almost too simple to be true. However, whether it’s a footballer's first touch, good reactions out of the blocks for a sprinter, or a cricketer keeping their head over the ball – top-level sport really isn’t that complicated; it’s about doing the basics well.
At Christians in Sport we make no apologies for emphasising the basics. When we’re supporting young people, university students, adult sportsmen and women, international partners, or professional and elite sportspeople we stress the basics of Pray, Play, Say. At the beginning of 2007 it’s worth us reminding ourselves of what it means to ‘Make Sport Your Mission’ – Colossians 4:2-6.
Pray ‘Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ for which I am in chains’. Being devoted means being totally committed such that if you take a cross section of your life and look at it, then like a stick of rock you’d see the word ‘prayer’ running through every part of it. We’re called to be devoted prayers, asking God for opportunities to tell those we play and train with, and those we come into contact with, about Christ when he gives us the opportunity.
Play ‘Be wise in the way you act towards outsiders’ On and off the pitch play in a way that is so different and like Jesus that when others watch you they’ll start to ask; “What is it that she’s got that makes her live that way?” Of course you may never hear others say that, and you’ll be only too aware of your mistakes, but over time and with God’s help if you live differently it just looks so attractive to those who don’t know God.
Say ‘Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone’. Speak graciously – that is in a caring and loving way, and let your conversation be seasoned with salt – so that it’s distinctive and enriching, and when the opportunity arises and in your own way say something of Christ.
Brian Ashton was aware that the England players knew their core skills and could do them in training but he wanted to keep focusing on them because as he said for many “the technique does not stand up for a lot of players under the intense gaze of the international arena”. Thankfully for us as Christians the Holy Spirit is Jesus’ power within us to make sure that under the intense pressure of living in a lost world, we will be able to stand up as Pray, Play, Say-ers.
Graham and Pete
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