7 Habits of a Servant CoachSample

Jim Caldwell, a former NFL head coach, once said: “The more you know about them, the better you can serve them. I’ve always believed coaching is a service business.”

Coaching is a service business.

I love that. I love that, despite a desire to win, coach Caldwell sees his primary role within his position as a calling to serve the people he has been entrusted with. What if all Christian coaches had a similar philosophy?

The Biblical mandate for Christians to love God and love others stretches across every profession—including coaching. This can be scary. Oftentimes, replacing our way of doing this with God’s can force us to make radical changes. What I am about to suggest in this devotional series will be a major perspective shift that will only take a few minor adjustments. 

How can a Christian coach serve the players he or she is coaching without completely shifting their existing coaching philosophy? By creating some new habits

The first habit should not take you by surprise: Pray. 

1 Samuel 12:23 has always been a convicting verse for me. Samuel is saying that a failure to pray for the people God has given him to shepherd would be counted as sin. Ouch. 

Now, I'm not sure how broadly this verse can be applied but I think the concept is worth consideration: leaders should pray for the people they are leading.

Coach, how often do you pray for your players? Seriously, how many times since they have been under your care have you asked for things on their behalf before the Lord?

What would it look like for you to incorporate this rhythm of prayer into your daily schedule as a coach?

Habit Forming Challenge: Get some note cards and write the names of your all your athletes on them. One name per card. Put them somewhere you will see them. Flip through the cards once or twice a day and make a commitment to pray for one of them every time you shuffle through.