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Why Do You Do This Anyway?
It’s spring (?) once again, and by the time you’re reading this, we’re preparing for Season VI of C.Y.S.L. Soccer.
With numerical growth as it has been, and simply as a refresher, it’s periodically necessary to re-state what the mission of our league is and has been.
As with any new undertaking, this one was received with a fair amount of skepticism at it’s outset.
Skepticism has, however, grown largely into a sense of belief that “this could work,” and in many cases, real enthusiasm for what the C.Y.S.L. is all about.
Initially, expressions of “why do we need such a league as the C.Y.S.L.” and “what’s wrong with the city league(s)?” were the common attitude and question. “Do you think it’ll work?” and “Where will you get the kids?” also topped the list.
We, to be quite honest, didn’t have the answers to some of these questions, but the one’s we did have an answer to, we felt, made the endeavor worth our best efforts.
When my wife and I found that our oldest son would soon be entering an age group that mandated somewhere in the neighborhood of 80% of games be played on Sundays, we were faced with a decision. Given a choice between sports participation or church attendance, sports were certainly going to lose out. So we began thinking about what the alternatives were. Being a home-school family, organized physical activity outside of the home was very important to us for the sake of our kids.
A second issue arose when, within a municipal league, we were informed that we would be able to keep our two oldest sons together on a team, but were later prohibited from doing so. We found this to be difficult, if not impossible to deal with logistically (4 boys – 4 different teams – In 4 different places), and incredibly divisive to a family.
Our next question was “what do the churches offer?” After all, we had seen church baseball teams (although most of those have all but disappeared) and church basketball, so certainly, someone must have set up soccer teams within the churches somewhere… right? (chirp-chirp, chirp-chirp).
No. So, in prayer, we set out to do something about that situation. The goals were:
1) Eliminate the interference with church
2) Keep families together as best we could
3) To get our kids some physical activity and competition in our increasingly “couch potato” society
4) Seek to honor our LORD in the process.
Since beginning this undertaking four seasons ago, some unexpected and valuable lessons have been learned.
For example, we have learned that being a part of a league that seeks to honor God in what we do, has distinct advantages in guidance and decision making. Our LORD has taught us, for example the proper way to deal with others and to settle disputes. When questions arise as to how issues are to be handled, we have the Word of God as our measuring rod. Secular leagues not only don’t have this, but it is highly doubtful as to whether any of them would seek the wisdom of God in such situations.
Is Godly correction always received? No, but even in that situation, our LORD has given us guidance for how to deal with such issues. This, we believe to be a tremendous difference and advantage when comparing the C.Y.S.L. and other leagues.
We’ve also learned that we are not just teaching our children a game. There are many, many life lessons to be learned in participation of this sort.
1) To overcome an obstacle or difficulty, rather than quitting. How many of us knew, or were quitters when we were younger. We are urged in the Word of God to strive for the mark of the high calling in Christ Jesus, not quit. Struggling to achieve will not kill us, but a lack of it well may. If not dangerous physically, it certainly can be spiritually.
2) The importance of fulfilling an obligation to others. To be at practices, to be at games, to give your best effort, whatever that may be, to be reliable in general. These are important life-lessons, that will serve well in a family, in school, in a business, in a job.
3) To learn what it is to lose, as well as to win. These are enormously important life-lessons that are not always taught or stressed in school, in the work place, or anywhere else in society other than competition. To lose, as has been stated in previous letters, does not make one a loser, just as to win, should not make one the enemy of everyone else. Every player, every coach and every team will at some point “meet their match.” There are a great many good, Godly lessons to be learned about the sin of pride when in competition, and these lessons need to be learned by child and adult alike.
4) To learn to be an individual as well a teammate. - This lesson can be and is, invaluable in our society. There are times when we need to take responsibility for only ourselves, and there are times when we are equal parts of a group. Where are the lines drawn? What is my part, what is theirs?
5) To accept teaching and constructive criticism. Learning that people who like you are not always going to congratulate you, agree with you, or put you at the highest point on the list of importance at all times, are lessons that even the disciples had a hard time learning. Judas certainly did. James and John wanted to know who would be the greatest. Their mother even tried to negotiate a better place in the LORD’s kingdom. Sound like new issues? Outdated? Probably not.
Our LORD Jesus loved and loves more passionately than any of us could ever hope to, but he does not in that love, leave us where we are at. Growth is necessary, and sometimes (okay, often) painful.
So where do we go from here? We believe that with the LORD’s blessings, the C.Y.S.L. will continue to grow. As the founder of the league, my greatest drive and passion is to ensure that this does not become simply a league that is “just like every other.” We SHOULD be seeking to glorify our Heavenly Father in praises and prayer. We SHOULD be expecting conduct that is becoming of a Christian from players, coaches AND parents. We SHOULD be placing the emphasis on families, and we SHOULD be a good and proper extension of our local church bodies.
We need to remember who it is that we represent when we are out on the field, and who we represent when we choose our criticisms and conversations.
LORD willing, the C.Y.S.L. will grow again this Fall by at least one division (Junior “A” [travel]). We need to be prepared not only financially (the reason we do fundraising), but mentally and spiritually. The league will not always meet the expectations or needs of every family and/or player, and there will be those who choose not to return. But our reach for the kids of this world who need Christ-like influence in their lives should never tire.
Ask yourself this question. When the crazy, hectic, exciting week of “Vacation Bible School” or “Neighborhood Bible Time” is over, and all of those kids that you were able to talk to about the LORD Jesus are gone, where did they go? And how can you reach them to get that Christ-like influence into their lives again?
That was one of the best reasons to start the C.Y.S.L., and maybe in the future a whole Christian Youth Athletic Congress – C.Y.A.C. (but that’s another letter).
Love, In Christ Jesus,
Steven Fritz
President
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