Quote

If your policy is to win at all costs, then you are going to hurt people.

Darrell Waltrip

Real Life

Ex-professional footballer and English international, Gary Lineker, is the parent of four sons who, like so many in England, played football as youngsters.

Lineker was one of the greats of English football, playing 80 caps for his nation and scoring 48 goals for them. He has spoken about when he was watching his sons play and saw parents “shouting and bawling” at their kids as they played. He says that 99.9% of the instructions that were being yelled out were unhelpful. They were either wrong or they were comments that instilled fear in the kids rather than confidence.

Lineker knows how precious the joy of sport is. He sees no point in killing the joy of the game and the love of it in these kids, especially when many of them will never reach the level these parents are desperately hoping for. “Let them play…let them enjoy football” says Lineker.

Sport can bring out so much that is good such as fair play and hard work, but it also has the potential to bring out the ugliness of human character. As people who are involved in sport, whether as players, supporters, coaches or parents, we decide what attitude we bring. We decide how we respond to the challenges we face and how we treat the people around us. We can choose to allow sport to bring out the best in us or we can see it purely as a means to get where we want to go.

It is sad that some parents put their child’s achievement ahead of their child’s wellbeing and should give us pause for concern, thought, and self-reflection. Rather than entertain judgement, we do well to ask God to examine our own heart and show us if there is any impure way within us (Psalm 139), so that we might become all that God wants us to be.

Bible Verse

Search me, God, and know my heart...See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalm 139: 23-24

Prayer

Lord thank You that You know my heart. If there have been times when my attitude has not honoured You, please forgive me. Help me to treat everyone as You desire me to; as Your much loved child.

Author: Sarah Auld   |   Content Editor: Phil Pawley