3d CoachSample
The Journey
READY:
So much of what I’ve learned about 3Dimensional Coaching has forced me to push back against human nature and the broken sports culture. It’s been a long, hard journey of discovery that has led me to this realization.
Strangely, I’ve had the answer right in front of me every step of the way. It just took me 30 years to see the connection between the Apostle Paul’s teachings in Romans 12:2 and my tumultuous adventure as a coach.
When God placed a desire in my heart to coach, it was, “His good, pleasing and perfect will,” for my life. But I made the mistake of conforming to the world’s view of what coaching was supposed to look like and became confused in the process. Instead, I should have allowed the Holy Spirit to transform me and renew my mind. Thankfully, I eventually got to that place, and it completely transformed me as a coach, as a husband, as a parent, and as a follower of Christ.
The true role of a coach is to take athletes somewhere they can’t go on their own. In the first dimension, this means teaching them physical skills and training principles that help them achieve their potential on the field of play. In the second dimension, this means dealing with issues of the mind such as emotions, confidence, motivation and team cohesion.
The third dimension is different. This is where the highest level of coaching takes place. It is defined by the connection between body, mind and spirit. This is called holism. This dimension encompasses spiritual issues such as character, identity, purpose and significance.
If you want to be effective at coaching in the third dimension, you must first deal with those deeper issues within your own heart. You can’t be a tour guide to a land where you’ve never been. You must first go on a spiritual journey and discover that your purpose is much bigger than what today’s sports culture portrays.
Wherever you might be in the journey, consider this: if you want the best for your athletes, you must first want the best for yourself. You must become whole if you want to truly affect your athletes and honor their spirit and purpose.
I can’t imagine what it would be like if every coach who professes Christ as their Savior actually made Him the Lord of their coaching. From youth sports all the way to the professional ranks, we would collectively experience a transformation of the culture!
Do you want to go on this spiritual journey of discovery? It is a journey that will transform you from the inside out and allow you to have an eternal impact on your athletes. Let’s go on this journey together and see Jesus Christ transform the world of sports!
SET:
1. As a coach, how have you been conformed to the pattern of this world?
2. Read Matthew 22:36-39. How did Jesus give us the 3D framework in these verses?
3. What does it mean to be a transformed coach?
GO:
“Dear Father God, I want to be a transformed coach that will have an eternal impact on my players, but first change me. I want to go on the journey to be a 3D Coach. Bring change to all three dimensions of my life. I am ready for you, my Master Coach, to take me on this journey, no matter the cost. In Jesus’ name, amen."
If you want to continue your journey by taking the online course or purchasing the 3D Coach book, go to www.3Dcoach.org
Scripture
About this Plan
Dr. Jeff Duke has been coaching athletes and coaches for over 40 years. He is the author of the best-selling book, 3D Coach: Capturing the Heart Behind the Jersey. If you are a coach at any level, the 3D Coach Reading Plan will help you capture the hearts of your athletes. Becoming a 3Dimensional Coach (body, mind, spirit) will move you from being a transactional coach to a transformational coach.
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