Family Life in the Lord – Should you Play Football?

Dear Mark,

All that weight-lifting you’ve been doing has really made a difference. And you’re looking pretty quick on your feet as well. So the coach wants you to go out for football this year! Well, let me tell you a few things from my own football days.

As your Dad has probably told you, I was a pretty good running back and free safety in high school. Then I coached for several years. He may also have told you that I finally quit coaching because of the conflict it created with my conscience in respect to the principles of Christ.

Some good points

Now mind you, there are many aspects of football that are good. To be any good at it, you have to be imaginative, disciplined, practice teamwork and put the good of the team ahead of yourself. In fact, of all sports, it is probably the most team-oriented since every player has a specific assignment on every play that must be carried out in coordination with his teammates. And you’d be surprised how much study is involved with learning your assignments. You’ll have to know your job the instant the play is called, especially if it’ s one called by the quarterback changing plays at the line of scrimmage.

There’s a lot of discipline involved in the sport. For one thing, you have to build yourself up for the game with a lot of exercises and running that are no fun in themselves. If you don’ t, you’ll be easily hurt or be too tired to compete by the fourth quarter.

The problems

But there are some serious disadvantages you should consider. The game is physically dangerous. Despite improvements in the safety of equipment, warnings are issued by equipment manufacturers stating the inherent risk that goes with playing the game. I understand now the worry my parents experienced when decided to play football. They knew a young brother in Washington, D.C. who was killed during a high school football game. How they must have prayed that my experience would be a safe one! I was fortunate to emerge having suffered only torn ligaments and a broken nose. One wonders if it’s right to deliberately play as dangerous a sport and then pray to God to keep one safe. I know that we risk injury playing any sport. You can tear muscles or suffer a stroke or heart attack playing tennis and you can get hit with a golf ball on the golf course . But football is a bit different in that, as part of every play several people hit somebody else as hard as they can.

Beyond the risk of physical injury , however ,I have a greater concern about the emotions that are stirred up while playing the game. While I never went into a game intending to seriously injure somebody, I sure tried to put the hurt on them. During the game, the Adrenalin would begin to flow and I would get very aggressive. Sometimes it was just plain vengeance controlling me as I wanted to “take the head off’ of the guy who had just leveled me with a good block or tackle. When I did put a good hit on somebody, I must confess to a feeling of macho pride. Maybe I’d be a good sport and help him up, but I’d be kidding myself to say I was filled with Christian love that “is kind” and “seeketh not her own.”

One of the great attributes of a true disciple of Christ is that he puts the well-being of the other person ahead of himself I never could figure out how this jelled with the overwhelming desire to win. We had some guys on our team who would cry every time we lost and be on cloud 9 when we won. I wonder how much thought they gave to the feelings of players on the other team.

Asa coach, I found myself encouraging these same emotions in my players. There was no getting around it. No matter how much I tried to intellectualize the game or make it an exercise in teamwork, successful football came down to “Hit or be hit;” “Sacrifice your body;” “Stick it to him!” One reflex drill which was very popular for a while was to let out a guttural shout of “Kill” every time the coach blew his whistle.

For along time , I rationalized that all of the violence was just in the context of a game. But finally I concluded that you can’ t just pick and choose when you’re going to apply the principles of Christ. If you are committed to him, you really are supposed to do all to his honor and glory.

You can say that a lot of the same objections that I have made to football could be said of boxing ,wrestling,lacross or hockey. You’re right! But lacross and hockey can be played without the physical banging that is an integral part of tackle football. Infact, flag football and touch football can be played without the “kill or be killed” aspect of what your coach will want you to do.

Minimize some problems

With conscious effort, you can minimize the “winning is the only thing” aspect of any sport. Obviously that’s not the way the pros approach the game or the way any “successful” participant approaches any game at any level. But we have afar bigger game at which we’re trying to succeed — the game of eternal life. It is possible to enjoy the exercise and the extending of yourself physically. It provides interest to keep track of the score; and it helps develop humility to sincerely congratulate the other person when we lose. In fact, we can even develop a certain joy in seeing the other person experience the fun of winning. The world would say that’s learning to be a good loser and as one famous coach said, “Show me a good loser and I’ll show you a loser.” Apply that to the race of eternal life and he’s dead right; apply it to sporting activities and he’s dead wrong.

Consider options

Remember, there are other fall sports you can be playing rather than football. There is biking, hiking, running, tennis, golf soccer or whatever else is offered at your school. Actually, you’re better off doing activities that you can enjoy when you’re older such as golf or biking. And you’re better off not getting too involved with the school crowd. Participating in sports often leads to social relationships that can draw you away from the truth. If possible, try to get something going with the Christadelphians in your area that satisfies your social and recreational needs.

Since your Dad will probably hear about this letter, may I make a couple of suggestions? If there is a decision to be made about the football team, ask Dad to talk it over with you. If your Dad thinks you shouldn’t play, ask him to explain the reasons and present some alternatives. This can be a very important and emotional issue for a young man and it’s so important to have a good line of communication between parents and children.

Make it a matter of prayer, , Mark, and God be with you as you walk the paths of youth.

Lots of love,
Uncle Brad