This Post was provided by Tommi Richards:
Have you ever heard of FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes)? Were you involved in High School? If you were involved, what about the program made you want to belong to it? Why was FCA's approach intriguing? Does faith really play a role in sports, and if so, provide personal examples. Do you think FCA provides role models to the younger generation rather than many of the images in the media today? If you were never involved in FCA, were there other faith-based programs that you were involved in? If you are totally against FCA or any program like it, what are your reasons? You don't need to answer every question, but these are just some to think about...
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I wasn't involved with FCA or any other faith-based group in high school. That was 25 years ago, so my memory might have faded, but I don't recall the existence of any faith-based groups in our relatively small high school. If they did exist, they certainly weren't prominent.
ReplyDeleteI definitely believe there is a place for faith in sports. From acting as a foundation for individual athletes to helping shape the environment in a team or sport, faith and religion can introduce aspects to sport that might not otherwise exist. As with other types of influences, I believe religion shouldn't be forced on anyone, but it's presence should be welcomed amongst many influencing forces in sport.
I think FCA is a great opportunity for athletes to use faith in multiple aspect of there life like sports. But faith is something empirical that athletes can have faith in to help them succeed. From my stand point having god on my side did make me feel like I had an advantage.
ReplyDeleteI was involved in a number of sports but I or any other student wasn't involved in anything like the FCA. I came from a small catholic/lutheran dominated town so there wasn't ever any big religion organizations or clubs. I do believe faith does play a big role in most athletes lives. I can remember many games for football where my head coach would get in front of us and thank a higher power for the opportunity to be able to play football. I know my college football coach did the same thing and I from talking to many athletes faith does play a role in sports because many people feel if their higher power is on their side they will get a lucky break or something good will happen which will allow them to win the game or match. Faith can be a very big motivator in sports for a lot of people.
ReplyDeleteI wasn't involved in FCA in high school and I actually never heard about FCA until I was a Jr in college. FCA has played a major role in my growth as a athlete and Christian. The members were passionate about sports and extremely passionate about their faith and I had never been around people who felt that way. For me it was exciting to know that there are other athletes that I can grow with in my faith. My favorite role model that is currently involved in sports is Turner Gill.
ReplyDeleteI grew up in Stillwater MN. When I was in high school, 94'-96', we did not have FCA, but we had a group called Young Life. Young Life was not designated to athletes, but it was made up of mostly athletes in our town. We met every wednesday night and it was awesome. It made young people feel like it was ok and good to talk about faith and being Christian.
ReplyDeleteI currenlty coach in Elk River and they have FCA. I have many athletes that are involved and they have nothing but great things to say about it. I feel as though faith plays a huge role in all aspects of life so it would in sport as well.
Growing up in a small town in southwest MN, we did not have a FCA at our school. We had a youth church group that met on Wednesday nights and it was a great place to go and do activites with friends. In college, I found out about the FCA group when I was a junior. A couple of my teammates went and I never got involved because I was didn't really feel like talking about my faith with other people. I go to church and pary, but am more intrinisic when it comes to religion. I think it is a good opportunity for those that want to go and talk about God, but think it is seperate from sports.
ReplyDeleteI also have never heard of FCA and was not involved with any faith based groups. During my teen years I was not fond of religion and still do not consider myself “religious.” However, I do feel it would be a great organization for those who are religious, or spiritual, and want to incorporate that into athletics. I believe there are numerous athletes who are religious and know several professional baseball teams offer “chapel” to their players on Sundays (as they often cannot attend a service that day should they so desire). I was surprised at this finding but I believe it can be beneficial to help athletes learn how to incorporate both aspects of their life.
ReplyDeleteWith all the violence in sports taking place, do you think people like Tim Tebow, Colt McCoy, Sam Bradford, and Jason Witten are having a positive affect on sports and the way the game is being viewed? Do you think these people are sincere in wanting to involve Christ in their sports career and saying their relationship with God is #1 or is it just more for attention? Look at the article or videos posted below, and let me know your thoughts...
ReplyDelete(http://www.bpsports.net/bpsports.asp?ID=5657)
(http://iamsecond.com/#/seconds/Josh_Hamilton/)
(http://iamsecond.com/#/seconds/Colt_McCoy/)
I think there can be a place for faith in sports. I cannot say that these people arn't sincere in wanting to involve Christ in their sports careers. Their beliefs are their beliefs and I can't say they are wrong. Having athletes like this help build up the image of the "athlete."
ReplyDeleteI wasn't involved in FCA or any other organization like it. Not because I didn't believe what they were teaching or what they stood for. I guess I never really thought about joining, but I know plenty of people and friends who were involved with FCA. And they said it was a great experience for them, but that it might not be for everyone. My baseball coach actually ran the FCA organization at my school and he never once brought it up or asked me to join. I did ask him about it a couple times, he gave me a brief overview of what the organization was about. But he never pressured me to join.
ReplyDeleteI believe religion and sports can coincide with one another. However, I do not believe that it should be forced upon anyone who doesn't follow that particular religion or doesn't follow religion at all. Everyone has their own beliefs and everyone is entitled to them.
I was not involved in the FCA, however, any type of support systems for young athletes is a good one. THis faith based group will have postive messages that may help an althete push through during hard times in sports.
ReplyDeleteAs a coach, I have a few families that are very religious, they argue that the kids in the gym shouldnt be listening to KCLD because of its explicit suggestive lyrics. I told the families that I was raised and went to catholic private schools until college and with that in mind I had to cater to all types of families and beliefes. I also said that the songs that are played on the radio are edited and not a distraction in the gym.
The situation disolved as we all agreed upon playing "oldies" when the younger kids were in the gym, allowing the older girls to enjoy the modern music when they trained alone.
I didnt realize that religion in sports would coinside so much and in such different aspects.
Many people have noted that they may have not attended any sort of FCA or other program but they have heard of it, and heard positive things from the people who did attend. But on a different note, did anyone ever have a coach that truly practiced their Christianity on and off the field? DId this affect you as a player whether or not you were a Christian? Watch this video below on Tony Dungy and respond to his faith and being a coach:
ReplyDeletehttp://iamsecond.com/#/seconds/Tony_Dungy/
I think anytime religion is involved you need to be careful. I think the FCA has its place. If teammates want to get together away from the field and have bible study I am ok with that. I sometimes struggle with the concept that people who are involved in FCA are perceived as being good people and better than someone who is not.....especially when I don't always see them live their lives that way. Everybody should have the right to believe what they want to believe and not have someone else judge them because of it(on both sides of the issue)? I don't think coaches should push religion on their team. That is certainly not fair to kids who don't believe the same things that the coach believes. I am not a fan of a coach that says a full team prayer before or after the game. Again for the same reasons.
ReplyDeleteto elaborate on Doug's comment above: does saying a team prayer bother anyone or is it something you look forward to? Do you think that has become a norm regardless if a person is religious or not?
ReplyDeleteSaying a team prayer has never bothered individually, however, if done at a public school, it is breaking the seperating of church and state law.
ReplyDelete