Sports Outreach Africa

... and that's just in Brazilian soccer! On this side of the Atlantic Ocean, we have seen it too. The Nigerian Football Association cleared the decks of all national coaching staff in 2002, as did the South African United Cricket Board. Sierra Leone, Kenya and many other national and league teams have also bid farewell to their coaches.

In baseball you get three strikes and you are out, in football you get two... But if you are a coach you sometimes don't even get a single chance to slip up before you get sacked. Slight complacency in your league standings is enough to be slaughtered by the media, players, fans and eventually the governing body.";"I often note how much is expected of coaches. Fans have no tolerance for the slightest mistakes, stumblings or even just maintaining position. Coaches take complete responsibility for failure of a team, and the players take responsibility for the success. A coach cannot merely maintain league position, he needs to do better than he did previously or his job is in jeopardy. A coach can never rest on his laurels.

James 3:1-4

Do not all be teachers, my brothers, because we teachers will be judged more hardly than others. For we all go wrong in a number of things. If a man never makes a slip in his talk, then he is a complete man and able to keep all his body in control. Now if we put bits of iron into horses' mouths so that they may be guided by us, we have complete control of their bodies. And again ships, though they are so great and are moved by violent winds, are turned by a very small guiding-blade, at the impulse of the man who is using it.

As Bible study leaders, teachers and pastors we are the coaches of the spiritual team. As James 3 states, much is expected from the teachers. We are called to live Godly lives, free from slip-ups in our talk and actions.

Teachers must control their personal lives, as a coach under extreme media scrutiny. Just as a coach is criticised for how he behaves on holiday, or outside of the sports arena, so too is job of a spiritual coach a 24-7 responsibility. Every word and action scrutinised.

Let it be our goal to strive for perfection, not resting on our laurels or previous achievements, continually furthering our own growth, as we lead by example and develop the spiritual lives of those in our care. Be especially vigilant with your tongue (the rudder which can guide the ship on impulse). We need to be diligent in our control of what we say, especially on impulse. Never slipping up, always being encouraging and loving.

You see, it is not our jobs on the line, but the eternal futures of those we are supposed to coaching.