Today’s note is a reprise of a note from May of
2011. It is even more poignant today than then. I hope it serves you well.
Every year I observe parents, coaches, school athletic
directors and even sport chaplains as they relentlessly drive young athletes
toward the goal of becoming a “Division I student-athlete.” Their rationale is
overly simple, “If you work hard enough, you can earn a Division I full-ride
scholarship to college.” They’ve bought the foolish end of the American dream,
“You can be anything you want to be.”
The reality is much the opposite and one simple statistic
bears this out. Only 3% of all high school student-athletes ultimately receive
any measure of scholarship to compete in college sports. Three out of one
hundred receive anything. If the goal of the endless hours of practices,
private lessons, thousands of miles driven to out of state games, tens of thousands
of dollars spent to be a part of “travel teams,” and the untold measure of
grief, anxiety, pressure and emotional trauma endured by the family is a total
loss on 97% of those involved. If the acquisition of a college scholarship is
the goal, almost everyone fails.
If, however, the goal is something other, one’s chance of
success is much greater. If we can simply focus on the athlete’s experience
with the sport, with his or her teammates, with the coaches, officials and
opponents, the athlete is suddenly free to experience the sport without the
artificial pressure to perform for an elusive and probably unrealistic goal
several years in the future.
More simply said, the goal of earning a scholarship must not
be the goal. It is simply too remote and results in failure for almost everyone
concerned. Let’s focus on this game, this practice, this day and an attitude
which helps the players, coaches, parents and everyone else to experience the
best parts of sport. Hear Jesus’ words from Mark chapter 6 and verse 34, "Give
your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up
about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever
hard things come up when the time comes.”
Bottom line – Mom and Dad, back off! Give your child a
break! Coach, stop it. Your quixotic drive to get your player a D-I scholarship
will not be the validation of your coaching. Chaplain, cut it out. Your
attempts to manipulate your relationships in sport will not enhance your
ministry even if the student-athlete becomes All-American and ultimately a pro
All-Star. Let’s help those we lovingly lead to experience the best of sport in
the moment. Let’s help them cultivate a growing sense of the Lord’s presence
and pleasure in the activity of sport. That is an enduring joy which does not
require a scholarship.
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