READY:
SET:
The beginning of a season with a new team can be tricky, especially when the season is only 10 weeks long. Connection building is one more thing on a long list of tasks and skills a coach needs to do during practice. But, building connections between the players and to you, the coach, is important for success.
A team with a good connection communicates better in the heat of competition. There are fewer hurt feelings and less drama. With connection comes trust – trust in you and your game plan. And it is more fun for both the players and you when the team is connected.
Connection is important.
Jesus emphasizes this same point with the disciples in John 15. He uses the analogy of a vine and branches with fruit. A word picture that would have been very familiar to the disciples and their cultural background. He gives a stark statement at the end of verse 5, “. . . because you can do nothing without me.” Clearly, we can do things without Jesus but certainly we can do nothing of eternal significance without being connected to Jesus.
Connection is important and possible.
Connection building on your team might involve the warm-up activities in Huddle time or game debriefing. It comes with time spent together traveling to competition and between games. It likely involves a lot of conversations and encouragement which helps your young athletes know you see and value them. Initially, we begin connection to Jesus when we accept His gift of salvation. Building that connection with Jesus involves the same concept as team connections – time and conversation. We remain in Jesus when we spend time in His Word and in prayer.
Connection is important and intentional.
GO:
- What things do you do to build connection on your team? How has it benefited the team?
- What are you doing to build connection to Jesus? How has it benefited you?
WORKOUT:
OVERTIME:
“Lord, we know that connection is important on our team. Help our team to build the needed connections to be successful. More importantly, help me to connect to You. And help me to guide my team in their connection to You. In Jesus’ name, amen.”