If we are honest, are we ever really ready to start a new sports initiative in our ministries? For me, I dare say a
resounding no. I’m never ready. Nev-ver.
What stops me? A laundry list that includes a perfectionist mentality, a fear of failure, a desire to do it right, a high standard for excellence, and so on. Perhaps, you can relate. Now, not all cause for pause is wrong, and I recognize some of the reasons and traits listed can be fuel that ignites the fire. Yet, if we are still being honest, many of those listed can also stifle God working through us as we desire to maintain full control instead of relinquishing control to the Author and Creator of all things. And what I’ve been learning is to let go of the ideal perfect scenario for a program roll-out. Let go of having every single detail covered prior to a program launch. (For those that know me well, these are not just trivial marks of my own personal journey of faith, growth, and development; rather, these are boulder-sized milestones!).
Does this mean we shoot from the hip and haphazardly start programs because we’ve let go of lofty ideals? Not necessarily, no. We are called to work both diligently and prayerfully. Depending on your own ministry context, you don’t have to take one giant, proverbial bite when starting a new sports initiative.
Here’s an example. This past fall season, in testing the waters of adding a new sport to our ministry portfolio, we took a half-step by launching a volleyball skills academy, which translated to a series of volleyball clinics over the season. Why volleyball? In our assessment of resources, we already had the equipment, and in our assessment of opportunities within the community, no volleyball leagues existed in our immediate vicinity. Plus, in short, an academy-style approach doesn’t require the same level of manpower or volunteers needed as launching a new league would.
The positive response we received from the families that participated in the fall academy led to the launch of a volleyball league the following spring season. Although an academy or clinic doesn’t require the same number of coaches and volunteers that a league may, a league does provide a stronger opportunity both to connect and develop participants and their families. However, the evolution from an academy to a league wasn’t necessarily an easy one; for, we didn’t have an existing road map or template to follow on our own. Frankly, we didn’t feel ready to start, but we knew we probably never would!
In the game of volleyball, a ball that ends up in the net is still playable (as long as the side’s three hits have not been exhausted); however, playing a ball out of the net is never easy. The ball is difficult to read, and a player must adjust accordingly in order to keep the ball in play. It takes both practice and heart. A player must concentrate, position herself, and well, be aggressive and scrappy to keep the ball in play.
Similarly to a volleyball coming off the net, launching a new initiative can be unpredictable as a sports ministry heads into uncharted waters. In the same manner, we need to adapt and be flexible in our approach, and we need a coach and teammates to help mold us. We need resources, practical and human, to assist in keeping a new program in play, and in some cases, we will need to be resilient and scrappy when we experience resistance as we embark on change within our ministries.
From where does this help come? The CSO Network was invaluable in our development and launch of a new youth volleyball league. In searching for resources and tips on where to start and how to start, I found help and encouragement from fellow CSO Network members. We owe so much of our current program to three sports ministries, namely, a SOAR, another SOAR, and a ROAR. Jenny Young, Chris Baity, Lulu Merrill, and Brent Williams each played a unique and key role in our new volleyball initiative. I have only been a member of the CSO Network a little over a year and have already witnessed its positive impact on our sports ministry.
For those looking for a place to get connected, inspired, and challenged, join the Network. And, make the net work for you, too.
