Rebuilding

Our small town high school football team had a record-breaking season last year. We finished 11–1, and ranked eighth in the state. This year our record is 0–6.

As coaches, we have all had the dreaded “rebuilding” season, the one where the most you hope to gain is respect for your efforts and sportsmanship. Even the best programs have rebuilding years. The best teams experience slumps. As coaches, we find this is a frustrating time. We get angry. We do not understand how we can do well one year and so poorly the next. We vent our frustrations on the players, our assistants, and even our families.We say and do things we later regret.

God calls us to use those rebuilding seasons for just that very purpose—rebuilding. We are to “endure hardship as discipline” (Heb 12:7a). Webster defines discipline as “correction; mental and moral training.” It is during those tough seasons that coaches are under the most scrutiny. As Christians, we must maintain our composure at all times. We must gently correct and encourage our players so that the best of their talents and abilities will shine. Trust in God’s wisdom, and you will learn much more than you imagined in the process!