By Rob Globke

1. Thank You.
“give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” - 1 Thessalonians 5:18

You may not always see eye to eye with your coach. You may not always be happy with how he coaches, how much playing time you are receiving, or the type of practice he runs. You could even be sick and tired of your coach’s language, temperament, or even his style. You just might be justified in all of these things. To be angry and frustrated are emotions we humans can’t escape.

Yet,

It’s important to remember that in the midst of these emotions it’s still good to have a spirit of
thankfulness:

• Thanked your coach for taking the time to prepare practice?
• Thanked your coach for giving up his time to lead your team?
• Thanked your coach for pushing you to be a better player? (even if you don’t like the means)
• Thanked your coach for giving you advice? (even though you may not think it’s was so good)
• Thanked your coach for giving you the opportunity to play?

Instead of getting angry and talking behind their back, take a moment to think of the ways you can be thankful for your coach. And then...have the courage to say THANK YOU to them in person. It will not only change their heart, but yours as well.


2. What Can I Do To Get Better?
“Search me, O God, and know my heart!
     Try me and know my thoughts!
And see if there be any grievous way in me,
     and lead me in the way everlasting!” - Psalm 139:23-24

In the Christian life it is good to stop and evaluate where we have gone wrong. To take a moment to ask God to reveal the places where we have gone astray. In doing this, we see where we need to receive forgiveness and it opens our eyes to areas where we can seek to be better. In order to begin a journey, you must first know where you are starting from. Figuring out where you are and admitting you are in that place is a principle we can apply to our lives at the rink as well. Of course, your coach is not God. Yet, we can still ask them in a way…. “lead me to be a better hockey player or even a better person.”

Have you taken the time to figure out some areas in your game you might need to work on? Have you thought about asking the coach how you might become a better player?


3. I’m Sorry.
“Have mercy on me, O God,
     according to your steadfast love,
according to your abundant mercy
     blot out my transgressions.” - Psalm 51:1

Before pointing the finger at the coach every time something goes wrong, don’t forget that there will be times when fault lies with you. Just as you make mistakes in life that go against what God wants, you will make mistakes on the ice...or in the locker room...or in the rink that will go against what your coach wants from you. It will not be easy in moments of shame to approach your coach to say, “I’m sorry”.

Yet, just because something is not easy does not mean it’s something that shouldn’t be done. In fact, sometimes the hardest things to do are the most worthwhile. When you humble yourself to say you’re sorry you will not only make your coach smile (most of the time), but you will be showing them an example of Christlikeness. This will make God smile. And without a doubt, that is really what matters after all.

Have you ever said you’re sorry to a coach? Is it time to start?