I never played football as a kid.  Two hand touch in the backyard doesn’t count, and neither does snow football during college.  But my son wanted to try it out, and he is having to learn a lot, and fast.  He’s learning things like : “no one is going to necessarily help you up when you get knocked down, most of the time you’ve got to pick yourself up and get back into the game.”  During practice he gets knocked down by a kid a year older than he his.  Not a big slam, just knocked down.  So, he sticks his hand up for help, waiting on his back with his hand sticking up, and no one reaches down to help.  They’re already getting ready for the next play.  Sometimes you’ve just got to pick yourself up and get back into the game.  He’s also learning to hate the word, “HUSTLE!”  But, he’s learning that you’ve got to HUSTLE if you want to play the game.

I really like the coach and the assistant coaches.  I admire them.  Not only do they volunteer a ton of time to coach these kids and teach them football, they are teaching them so much more.  What’s not to admire?  This coach played in the NFL!  He is tough, he is smart, he knows football and he can teach football!  This is serious stuff.  And for a non-football playing kind of guy, I respect that.  But here’s what I respect more.

Last Saturday, I finally was able to go watch my son and cheer the team on (had to leave early, but that’s another story).  The coach and assistant coaches are running them through some drills and plays, and then it’s time for the pre-game pep talk.  Here’s what I heard as I listened from the sidelines:

“OK, listen up!  What’s my job as your coach?”

“LOVE US!”

“What’s your job?”

“LOVE EACH OTHER!”

“Reject…”

“PASSIVITY!”

“Accept…”

“RESPONSIBILITY!”

“Lead…”

“COURAGEOUSLY!”

“Serve…”

“HUMBLY!”

“Seek…”

“THE HIGHER REWARD!”

I thought, my gosh, he’s teaching my son life and faith lessons!  How awesome is that?!

They went on to play the game, only to be beaten by a team with larger, older, and more experienced players.  The boys were dejected.  But later that day, after I got back from the emergencies I had to attend to, my son asked me, “dad, what does it mean that you learn more from your failures than you do from winning?  That doesn’t make any sense.  Isn’t it all about winning?”

I’ve been thinking about these lessons from my son’s football coach, especially when it feels like I am flat on my back and I’ve got to pick myself up and get back in the game.  I’ve been thinking about what kind of father, husband, friend, pastor and leader I have been, compared to what I want and know I should be.  I’m realizing it is absolutely true that I’ve learned more from my failures than I have from my successes, but those are hard and painful lessons to learn about myself.  I’m realizing I’m learning a lot from my son’s football coach, though not much about football.  Thanks coach!  Keep up the good work!