What does it take to win the game? This question often dictates the primary philosophy coaches use to make decisions. Under the increasing pressure to win, every coach and player has been encouraged to bend or break the rules. In the world of sports, why is it so difficult to discern what constitutes cheating?

In the 1999 Women’s Soccer World Cup, USA goalkeeper Brianna Scurry stepped off her goal line to make the game-winning save on a penalty kick. While the rules allow a goalkeeper to move sideways along the line, she is not allowed to step forward until the ball is kicked. In the championship match that day, the referee did not rule against the save, though it is still a point of contention whether the referee and the player made the right choice. Making the right choice and acting with integrity become even more challenging when it appears our competitors are not doing the same. How can our players be expected to compete against a team that practices extra days, or one that uses ineligible players or illegal equipment? God desires that we act with integrity in every area of our lives, including athletic competition, but He did not leave us on our own to fulfill His standards. He provided a way through a personal relationship with Christ. As coaches, we desire to win. Yet God does not want us to win the game at the cost of losing our integrity.