A successful sports program can be offered most successfully by any church, whether a small church or a large church.  The initial requirements are a sympathetic pastor, dedicated people to direct it, a recreation committee to properly organize it, and a sound philosophy to justify it.

A sub-committee of the recreation committee should oversee the everyday operation of the sports program.  A sports coordinator should be appointed for each sport and many times for each age group.  These age groups could be children, youth and adults.  These age groups should include boys. girls, men and women.  These coordinators should be members of the sports sub-committee of the Church Recreation Committee.

The sports coordinators may or may not be a coach, but must be familiar with sports activities.  The coordinators will work directly with the selected coaches and managers.  Responsibility for the total sports program will be the sports sub-committee and its coordinator’s.

Duties of the Team Sports Coordinators

1. Help the recreation committees enlist coaches for each team in their respective age groups and see that they are properly trained.
2. Attend all league organization meetings with the coaches. 
3. Attend all other meetings scheduled by league officials.
4. Assist the coaches in enlisting prospective players for teams.
5. See that sports equipment and supplies are purchased and properly cared for.
6. Notify the church organizations when teams are being organized, and request their help in promotion.
7. See that teams are entered in the desired sports leagues.
8. Make arrangements for the use of playing facilities, equipment, and supplies.
9. Notify all coaches regarding the time, date, and place of contests [coaches notify players].
10. Fill in when a coach or manager is absent
11. Be familiar with eligibility rules and insure that all members of the reams remain eligible.
12. Keep up to date on the rules for protests, forfeits and postponements.
13. Work with coaches to promote sportsmanship and conserve spiritual results.
14. Reports the results of games and team standings for the church paper
15. Report sports activities to the church recreation committee for its monthly report to the church.
16. Keep in close touch with the church recreation committee on all matters pertaining to the sports program.
17. Promote evangelism and regular church and Bible study attendance.
18. Make sure that all players meet the eligibility requirements set by the church and league.

Balanced Sports Program

The balanced sports program should include more than team sports entered in organized leagues.  It should also include classes of instruction for beginners, individual sport contest, tournaments and intramural competition.  Although individual events are designed for one participant, they are more fun if played with one or more persons.  Most dual events can be structured as singles, doubles, mixed doubles and team play.

Four Major Divisions of Sport Activities

1.  Individual sports [played by one person in competition with other individuals].  Some of these are golf, skating, water skiing, swimming, boating, bicycling, archery, horseback riding, hiking, track and field events, bowling, fishing, riflery, and tumbling.
2. Dual sports [requires two persons competing against other two person teams].  Some of these are horseshoes, tennis, table tennis, shuffleboard, handball, racquetball, badminton, aerial tennis, deck tennis, two person volleyball and tetherball.
3. Team sports [played with a group or organized team against other group or organized teams in an organized league].  The most popular of these are volleyball, basketball, bowling, baseball, and softball and flag football.
4. Coed recreation [for mixed groups of male and female].  Some of the best sports for coed recreation are volleyball, skating, water skiing, hiking, bicycling, archery, deck tennis, ping pong, badminton, aerial tennis, bowling, and horseback riding.

Scheduling the sports activities should always protect the worship and educational ministries of the church.  The sports program should undergird and complement the total church program and never be in competition with the Bible teaching and outreach programs of the church.  Evangelism and outreach should always be priorities of the sports program.

Player Eligibility Standards should include carry over values. Participating youth and adults should be led to support the total church program.  Churches admitted to membership in a league should be held responsible for the amateur standing and conduct of their representatives.  The following general standards of eligibility should be considered for meaningful carry over value of the sports program in the church.

• Players must be a church member or enrolled in Sunday school or other educational programs of the church.
• Players must be in attendance at least 50 per cent of the time in at least one of the church organizations.
• A thorough physical examination by a doctor should be required each year.
• Managers or coaches are expected to set Christian examples and will be held directly responsible for upholding the rules and regulations of the league.
• Every game and practice should begin with a prayer.
• A player registered with one church league team should not be allowed to play with any other organized league team during the current season except in the case of transfer of membership to another church.
• Players carried on a school team roster should not be eligible for participation in that sport on church teams.

Financing the sports program should be included in the annual church budget.  The church sports program is the responsibility of the whole church and should not be haphazardly fostered by a few interested members of the congregation.  Participants should bear part of the cost but should not be expected to finance the total cost of the program.

Insurance is a necessary part of the sports program.  Churches need to realize the legal liability and the ethical responsibility regarding accident insurance.  Nearly every church has an insurance agent in its membership who can serve as a resource person for the type of insurance needed.  Naturally, the church wants to do the right thing about adequate coverage.  There are many different policies available and expert guidance should be obtained.

Good Leadership is the key to success in the church sports program.  If the sports coordinators are coaching all the teams, buying all the equipment, and enlisting all the players, then they are weak leaders and need to learn to use people.  The sports committee must be aware of this as it organizes teams and seek the help of the full recreation committee if it needs additional help.  Thankful recognition of these persons from time to time is a must.  The pastor and the church recreation committee should see that this is done properly.

Recognition and Awards are a must in any program.  Recognition is a basic human need.   The fun of playing should be the greatest incentive of church sports.  However, inexpensive team trophies and individual awards are a treasured symbol of achievement.  A trophy display case in a prominent location can be a constant reminder of team work and high quality performance.  When players and teams do achieve outstanding success, be sure to recognize them promptly.  Have the church and pastor recognize them “as a group” in the Sunday morning worship service.  Some churches are highly successful in planning a sports banquet in March or April recognizing those who won trophies that year.  Awards and recognition are very important but be careful not to make it the primary emphasis.

Unique opportunities are offered in sports contest for the development of Christian character.  To be sure, the basic reason for playing a game should be to try to win over an opponent.  Desire to win is important, but winning a championship should not become the driving force of a good sports program.  Being a good witness, involving all players and teaching the players to do their very best should be the goal of every coach and leader.  The coach be an example and influence the players to play so that they will bring credit to Christ, to the church, and to themselves.  Remember that there is only one chance to make a good impression.

Get started with Youthrec 101 Plan for Success and put these skills to work in your local program