I always knew I was lucky, but boy do I have a lot for which to be grateful – that the time my father and I spent together shooting hoops or having a catch was not only special (as the following certainly is), but it was also bit more productive:

In addition to the basic sporting life skills learned from my father, I discovered the importance of presence, support, hard work and forgiveness.  While presence, support and hard work are important and worthy of their own articles, they are also self-explanatory.  Forgiveness, however, plays just as important a role as the others and it is not an easy life skill to learn or execute.

The need for forgiveness in sport goes beyond the need for a forgiving basketball rim or golf course hole to assist in our point scoring.  Forgiveness is a requirement of any single athlete or team who wants a chance to play to their potential; the opportunities to ask for forgiveness and to forgive are boundless in the pursuit of competition.

Think about your responses to the actions of others:

• When a teammate breaks a team rule and the team has to “pay the consequences”
• When a teammate calls you out during a drill, which is either warranted or unwarranted
• How about when an official makes a horrific call
• Or if a coach makes a decision with which you don’t agree or understand
• When a teammate acts out or has a difficult time with you “taking their spot” – or when a teammate earns “your spot”
• What happens when someone’s pride has manifested into unproductive actions?

What about the times when you are in need of forgiveness for your actions?  Put yourself in the shoes of those above.  What if your actions or words were well intended but poorly executed and misunderstood due to your own frustrations and passion?

In addition to seeking forgiveness of others, what about forgiving yourself?

• Maybe you missed the last opportunity to score, in overtime, in the Championship game
• Or, think about the times have you have mentally checked out and not left everything at the door before practice or a game
• When have you taken yourself mentally out of the game because you are so focused on your own mistakes that you allow a self-focused downward lens?
• What do you do when you have received forgiveness from a coach or a teammate, but you can’t forgive yourself?

If we don’t seek forgiveness and if we don’t offer forgiveness, we won’t get very far on our own or as a team.  Forgiveness is the only way you and your teammates or coaching staff can move on repaired, instead of replaying on a pot-hole laden surface.

Remember the lessons learned from your father during your own special times together.  Reach out to communicate with your teammates, coaches, athletes in a respectful and productive manner to seek and to offer forgiveness.  Forgiveness offers a saving grace on both sides – find that peace so you can continue forward.

Derek Redmond (GBR) in agony after suffering injury during the Men’s 400m race during the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.

Retired U.S. Army First Lieutenant Melissa Stockwell, the first female solider wounded in Iraq, and a member of the 2008 U.S. Paralympic Team, lit the cauldron at the Opening Ceremony of the 2012 Warrior Games.

Every time we fall or fail, we are called to rise.  It’s in rising that you accomplish feats you never planned to face and in doing so you never know how your rising and your story will inspire others to do the same.

Two empowering visions of never settling, of rising to compete and finish with a new found potential are the following:

Note for clip: Derek Redmond was expected to medal in the 400 meter race of the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.  His father came to his side, and 65,000 fans rose to cheer him on: 

Note for clip: The Warrior Games feature wounded, ill and injured soldiers representing each branch of the US Military and a team for the British Armed Forces.  Teams compete in seven sports – archery, cycling, shooting, sitting volleyball, swimming, track and field and wheelchair basketball.  These athletes have risen more than once to get to where they are now: 

]]> http://isscdblog.org/2013/06/10/arise/feed/ 0 isscd Derek Redmond (GBR) in agony after suffering injury during the Men's 400m race during the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Retired U.S. Army First Lieutenant Melissa Stockwell, the first female solider wounded in Iraq, and a member of the 2008 U.S. Paralympic Team, lit the cauldron at the Opening Ceremony of the 2012 Warrior Games. http://isscdblog.org/2013/06/03/hope/ http://isscdblog.org/2013/06/03/hope/#comments Mon, 03 Jun 2013 18:04:14 +0000 isscd http://isscdblog.org/?p=477 ]]> by Clare Devine, M.S.A.,
Coordinator, Campus Programming, ISSCD

When you see an incredible hustle and all-out effort from an athlete as the odds are stacked up against him or her, and the unimaginable occurs, we are inspired with a rekindled hope in the human spirit and a gratitude for something more.  Just think about all of the proof we have from inspirational movies, YouTube clips, articles and sports coverage, which remind us time and time again that “great moments are born from great opportunity” (Herb Brooks, Miracle).  Yet, when the bricks keep piling up, when the time ticks off the clock, when our team is down in points, why do we lose hope, why do athletes give up?  Why do we determine the end results before the game is already over?  Those who don’t give up have a deep seated hope and a will to win.  Those who play to the last whistle, who give everything they have to the game, remind us with their buzzer beater baskets and more that we never know what could happen if we just lay it on the line with a little bit of hope.  Anything is possible, and it ain’t over ‘til the last whistle blows…

Note for clip: Watch the goalkeeper in green (save no. 6 of his top 10). 

Note for clip: These two teams are playing in a highly touted semifinal and are tied (although the score is noted otherwise), with no knowledge of additional stoppage time on the official clock as they have exceeded the added on stoppage time (in soccer, the clock runs but the officials keep track of game stops for goals, injuries, etc. which they add on at the end). 

____________

Manuel Almunia of Watford (photo courtesy of Reuters)

Joe Hart of MCFC (photo courtesy of Getty Images)

When the public begins to believe that the value of the institution is to be measured by the success of its athletic teams, the core mission of the university is threatened…the value of an athletic program must ultimately rest on its support of and integration into the educational mission and traditions of the university.

Those prophetic words were spoken in the January 2005 State of the Association Address by the late Myles Brand, the fourth president of the National Collegiate Athletic Association. We may never know if Dr. Brand could have imagined the recent scandals that are rocking college athletics, but his words serve as reminder that the university community as a whole suffers when members of the athletic community behave in a manner contrary to university mission and values. Recent negative examples, such as the scandal surrounding Rutgers Athletics (including the hiring of their new Athletic Director) and the allegations concerning Seton Hall softball, should not deter university leaders from a critical opportunity that exists: enhancing university athletic programs so that they positively impact the leadership development of students.

Universities can avoid irreparable damage if preventative steps are taken to ensure all members of the university community understand what the expectations are when it comes to representing the institution. Many argue that coaches may feel as if precious time is taken away from building a “successful” program if they are expected to consider issues outside of scouting, skill and play development. Legendary UCLA basketball coach John Wooden won over eighty percent of his games and seven consecutive NCAA championships. Yet, he did not consider himself a success unless his students were mentored in physical, mental and emotional disciplines that applied to all aspects of life. Coach Wooden always referred to the players on his teams as his students.

This is a key aspect to remember when discussing coaches’ behavior with student athletes: the players are students. A coach, just as a faculty member, should be hired, oriented and evaluated using standards that are in sync with the mission of that school. In addition, colleges and universities have a responsibility to provide all faculty and staff—including coaches—with orientation and on-going training that ensures they have an understanding of the school’s mission as well as an ability to effectively and consistently represent that mission.

The influence of role models on the development of leadership skills among young people can never be explored enough. People closest to students affect them the most. More often than not, student athletes spend more time in the presence of their coaches than they do many other adults, especially while in season. Coaches may or may not be aware they have this mentoring opportunity which makes it crucial for university administrators to ensure that the mission, vision and values of their institutions are fully, consistently, and unapologetically integrated into their athletic programs.

The men and women who struggled and paid the ultimate sacrifice are much more than names etched on marble or perfectly aligned white crosses scaling the soils of our land and beyond. The spirits of those fallen in the line of duty generate an emotional and inexplicable response of honor, remembrance and gratitude not only in the hearts of their loved ones, but also in those fellow Americans who are blessed by their stories and examples. Their courage to enter battle began with the fundamental belief in human dignity for all, which at the core states: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” (The Declaration of Independence). The men who penned these words and those who shortly thereafter defended them, knew not of their impact on us today – their sacrifices have led to many more in the years since, and will continue to inspire ever more to protect what is right.

Sacrifice is an enigma offered to us in a multitude of ways, but the commonalities always stand true – sacrifice puts others above self, and although painful, sacrifice yields unforeseen and sometimes incomprehensible gifts of the heart.

I logically knew our soldiers and their families make daily sacrifices for us, but it wasn’t until I sat at the nurses station of the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany that my mind could see the physical, life changing sacrifices made (Landstuhl provides urgent and short term care to all injured, sick and ill soldiers from “down range”). It wasn’t until shortly thereafter when my heart ached with a new level of compression as I walked the Normandy American Cemetery on the anniversary of D-Day with two of my Army Nurse Corp friends. It wasn’t further until I found myself walking tenderly with weighted steps, and alone, in attempt to allow my emotions to roll off my cheeks that my feet led me to the chapel in the center of the cemetery. I saw a strong grown man in uniform come heavily down the steps wiping his eyes and leaning on the support of a fellow soldier. I was frozen and couldn’t muster up the words to say “thank you for your service,” as those words could not encapsulate all I wanted to say or all he needed to hear. It wasn’t until I entered that chapel, turned to my right and saw the words which shed light on understanding the depth of that soldiers tears – “Think not only upon their passing, Remember the glory of their spirit.”

There are no comparisons of these sacrifices to the world of sport which won’t seem like a trite example. There are however real lessons which can be learned and applied, even if we do not understand the reasoning behind the loss of life in protection of a nation and the maintenance of freedom. For example, the National Anthem is played before every sporting event, not just because it’s a nice tradition, but listen to the words and allow it to remind us of why and how we are able to pursue our passions – think of the men and women serving so that you might have the opportunity to freely compete to the best of your abilities. Honor those who have fallen by remembering and carrying their spirit into your game. Every time you hear the first whistle blown, offer up a thank you and show your gratitude by leaving it all on the field or court. Never give up, no matter the challenge, as our service members are proof of overcoming setbacks to do what is right, to glorify those who came before, and to put others before themselves.

We do not always know or understand the Lord’s plans for us, but if we trust in His Truth and commit to giving our all to our passions, we might be completing the piece of His plan we are unable to foresee. We all have others surrounding us, be it on a team, in a family, within a school, or in this great nation of ours – what are we doing with our own unique abilities and gifts to put those others first?

Selflessness is not an easy quality to obtain and requires work to maintain, moment by moment, to put others ahead of one’s own wants and needs.  Selflessness is challenged and strengthened through sacrifice, a message which I was prompted to realize through the sharing of time with two college friends this weekend.  I was blessed to hear my friend give his first homily as a newly ordained Deacon, the last step before he is to become an ordained priest.  His passion and trust overwhelming touched the congregation who stood joyfully to offer back a standing ovation.  He is offering his life to others in an amazing way, but reminded us all that we are called share our gift of faith and to be open to whatever God is calling us towards.  Segue to my other friend who is answering her own call to serve as a teacher, but is going beyond the daily challenges of a Catholic school sixth grade classroom to physically sacrifice throughout each mile along the roads from San Diego, CA to Annapolis, MD in a fundraising effort to enable one child the opportunity of a Catholic formative education from K-8th grade.

Rebecca Gonzalez of Coast to Coast for Catholic Schools.

I mention both friends [who hail from the Lehigh Valley and are products of Catholic education, including our Jesuit alma mater, The University of Scranton] not to compare their offerings to one another or even to our own, and not to boast that I have some pretty amazing friends [which I do :)].  I mention both because of their simplistic approach to giving of themselves to others in their own unique way on a daily basis.  Yes, these examples may appear on a grander scale than the norm, however serving as a Deacon and biking across the country are but tangible outlets which provide insight to how they live their daily lives.  Both are showing us the fruit of God’s labor when open to the workings of the Spirit within; you might say the deaconship and ride across the USA are results of their openness, but in truth, it’s just the beginning of an unforeseen impact their answer of “yes” has on others.

Mark Searles of the Diocese of Allentown.

In application to the sporting world, we can break down any achievement of a goal, any trial and error, any leadership decision not popular but made for the betterment of the team, any recovery from an injury, and any relationship gained through sport through the lens of selflessness and sacrifice.  All of those mentioned moments are not easy and sometimes we turn over the ball, sometimes we hit the boards, sometimes we commit an unnecessary foul at an inopportune time.  If we even only sometimes dwell on those mistakes, we are self-consumed and unable to see what we are called to create out of that single moment.  When we play with our teammates in mind, and we look to gain the point or possession back for them and not out of self-redemption, we are liberated with a trust in something greater than our individual self.

If we look to what gifts we were given individually and work to give the best version of ourselves, one moment and one day at a time, we might just look up and realize that we are sharing our joy with others and peddling across our own Rocky Mountains and plains of Indiana.

(Photo courtesy of Stephen Chernin/Getty Images.)

No matter your life circumstances, we all came into this world with the help of our mothers.  Some of us may be blessed to have our mothers present as grandmothers, some of us may have had time with our mother on earth cut short, and some of us may have been born into the world by one mother and loved like her own by another.  No matter your life circumstances, we all are here because our mothers said “Yes” to God’s plan.  I am blessed that my mother swooped me up and nurtured me towards whatever God has in store, including athletic endeavors which have served as a significant fiber in the thread of my life.

There was nothing like hearing the sound of my mother’s voice cheering me on as I took the field or court.  Whether or not the cheers were for the right calls or plays didn’t really matter – all that mattered was that my mother was present and engaged in the moment.  My mom taught me the importance of mental preparation and of taking care of my whole self so I would be ready to give it all to the practice or the game at hand.   I have always admired my mother’s steadfast faith which guides her each and every day, in all that she does, and I have only recently realized that she subtly introduced me to the connection between sport and spirituality.

At some point I unintentionally started to follow her lead in applying my understanding of faith and family to my athletic experiences – sacrifice, effort, discipline, putting others first, compassion, love and forgiveness are values attributed to both a strong family and prayer life, yet those principles are not compartmentalized but applicable to all areas of our interwoven lives.  The lessons our mothers have taught us are revealed in unforeseen ways – their wisdom unfolds in the opportunities many of us have received, athletics in particular, in which they were unable to participate in themselves.  However, their work ethic and understanding have enabled us to expand our horizons.  With an inexplicable gratitude for all our mothers have done, how then can we follow their lead and say “Yes” to God’s plan, not for ourselves, but for others?

‘Tis the season for championships and heartbreaks.  An inexplicable lightness and joy is found in the satisfying accomplishment of a major goal, and heaviness is found in a drained heart after leaving every fiber of being on the field.  No matter the numerical outcome, peace can be found in knowing you and your teammates, or your athletes and fellow coaches, gave it your all and did so together.  No matter the standings, the placement does not define you, nor does it reflect the way in which the game was played.  Each point on the board represents so much more than a number, which offers no justice in portraying the work, effort and awareness that went into earning each respective point.

Right before the championship game in A League of Their Own, Coach Jimmy Dugan had this response to his star player who told him she was leaving because “it just got too hard” – “You know I really thought you were a ball player…Baseball is what gets inside you, it’s what lights you up, you can’t deny that…It’s supposed to be hard.  If it wasn’t hard everyone would do it – the hard is what makes it great.”  Not everyone makes it to the championship round, and when there, not everyone ends with a run or goal more than the opponent.  What a privilege and an honor to win the desirable big game.  Win or lose though, the love of the game and all it entails hooks us in pursuit of potential and the rush of big wins.

Tom Hanks and Geena Davis in A League of Their Own (1992)

A belief in something greater provides reason and purpose for this pursuit, no matter the outcome.  In the halftime talk of the championship game in Friday Night Lights, Coach Gary Gaines offers this message to his players:

“Being perfect is not about that scoreboard out there.  It’s not about winning.  It’s about you and your relationship to yourself, your family and your friends.  Being perfect is about being able to look your friends in the eye and know that you didn’t let them down because you told them the truth.  And that truth is you did everything that you could.  There wasn’t one more thing you could’ve done.  Can you live in that moment, as best you can, with clear eyes, and love in your heart, with joy in your heart?  If you can do that gentlemen, then you’re perfect.”

Aren’t we all yearning to be perfect and at peace in search of the Truth?  We all, in our individual ways, hunger for that sense of peace found in trust and belief in something greater than ourselves.  That coveted trophy tangibly represents the hard work and sacrifice endured in search of Truth, yet no material object can encompass one’s true belief in that which dwells within us all.  Truth is present no matter the size of the trophy or lack thereof – it lives in your heart and beats within the hearts of your teammates and coaches on a collective journey for your perfection lived out in Truth.

Transition. Change. Adaptation. As humans, we live an ever-changing lifestyle and are often challenged to respond to a variety of situations in a positive light. This is not always easy as change can trigger the onset of fear of the unknown and apprehension to move on from what was comfortable. However, with change comes new opportunities and new possibilities. While transitioning to something new can be a challenging experience, it challenges one to expand one’s horizons and grow as an individual.

Transitioning to college life can be viewed as one of the most difficult experiences in a young adult’s life. That is what I went through high school believing; that was until one warm April day during my junior year. I was playing in a soccer tournament in front of collegiate coaches from all over the country. Despite my overwhelming nervousness, I was anxious to play well and hoped that a soccer scholarship would result. I had always dreamed of playing Division I collegiate soccer, and had been working hard to make this dream a reality. What I did not know was that God had other plans for me. In what was my best game of the tournament, I was thrown an unexpected curve ball; a snap and immediate tear, followed by an overwhelming numbness overcame my left leg as I fell to the ground writhing in pain. I tore my ACL in my left knee, an injury that would take six months from which to heal, and ultimately change the path of my collegiate career.

That moment has engrained itself vividly into my memory. As I lay on the field that day clutching my left knee, all I could think about is what would happen to my dream of playing Division I collegiate soccer. Tears were streaming down my face and I felt as though my dreams were shattered; however, that was the furthest thing from the truth. In the following months during my rehab, I remained persistent and determined to earn a Division I collegiate soccer scholarship. However, with each school I visited I was told the same story: due to my injury they now had enough people in front of me that they could not offer me a scholarship, and I would not see much playing time until my junior or senior year. For a girl who had dreamed of playing Division I soccer, this was heartbreaking. I was left wondering why this had happened at what seemed like such an inopportune time.

I was put in a position where I had to make a choice; I had to decide whether to pursue my dream or to adapt to the situation that I was given. Reluctantly, I chose the latter of the two options. I had been recruited by Neumann University at several tournaments prior to, as well as after, my injury. However, I had never given the university a chance because it did not fit my Division I criteria. Seeing as though I needed to change my plans, I went with my father to an open house to meet the coach and explore the campus. I was still broken-hearted, so on my first visit I did not give the university a chance. I arrived in a miserable mood, and left in much the same way. However, as the days passed and I came to my senses, I realized that I did enjoy my visit, and found myself on campus several more times in the coming months.

Now, in my junior year at Neumann University, I have realized that accepting the challenge to change the path of collegiate career was one of the best decisions that I could have made. I have learned that what seemed like utter devastation one day in April several years ago, was actually a blessing in disguise. While at Neumann, I have experienced success both on and off of the soccer field, and have been able to grow in so many facets of my life. I would not trade this experience for anything else. From my experience, I have learned that even though change is a difficult thing, mustering the courage to adapt to the situation can bring overwhelmingly positive results.

In correspondence with family and friends, I often sign my name below “One Love” as a little shout out to keep things fresh.  No one questioned my meaning until my former high school English teacher asked what I meant. (Note to self: always know the purpose of your words, especially when writing to an English teacher.)  I offered a simple response: “One Love can mean a lot of things, but for me it basically comes from the heart and is my expression of sending out one love to all, as well as my recognition and acknowledgment that there is one true love to be both given and received, by all.”

Love percolates through infinite channels.  In the medium of sport, coaching is one such channel rooted in love.  I am grateful to my former coaches and to my coaching mentors for gifting their love through the teaching of sport and life.  I am blessed to have received love as an athlete and to then have opportunities to pay that love forward through the unfolding gift of coaching.

This call to love – and call to coaching – isn’t always easy. I know some days aren’t all sunshine and rainbows, especially when, as a coach, you are called to lead by example in difficult teachable moments.  Life can be messy, but it’s in how you process those moments from a foundation of love  that sets the precedent for the rest of that practice, for the rest of the season, for the future of your program, and for the future of the lives you are assisting to mold – no pressure.

In believing each athlete has a purpose and role on the team, so too do coaches, and it’s not just to get those athletes to accept their roles to achieve a winning record and be the champion of all, although that is still a significant goal.  A coach’s love may shine through in uniquely different ways, but it comes from a source of desire and self-sacrifice to (ethically) do whatever it takes to assist their athletes in reaching their potential as a whole – in mind, body and spirit – both inside and outside of the arena.  If you want to see passion at work, look to a coach at work.  Their work starts long before their practice slot, and continues long after the lights are out.  Their work is deeper than the (un)necessary paperwork, emails and logistical planning.  Their work is the work of love.  They work because they love the game, they love the competition, they love the challenges, but most importantly, they love their team and relationships with their players. And then there are those beautiful moments when a coach’s love is visible in his/her team – how they treat opponents, officials, one another.

Love in sport is as tangible as a touch and as poignant as a glance that says it all – you’ve got it, we’re going to get through this together, let’s go.  Love is waiting to touch your heart to move you into action in ways  that only you as a unique individual can offer to the world.  Love hangs in the high five and loads up the back pat as a teammate walks down the bench after fouling out, as a batter returns to the dugout after 3 swings and misses, and after missing the big shot or the big block.  Love spring loads the chest bump on a home run, a game winning basket, a momentum changing spike, a sweet-nasty penalty kick, and a perfectly placed top shelf goal.

That one true love you have received and have within you is meant to be shared through your passions.  So, live it up with “a love full of action” (Venerable Cornelia Connelly), and allow that love to continue its percolation.

In keeping with the theme,
One Love,
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