by Shannon Caughey

Here’s an example of another temptation that coaches can succumb to: Their team is not playing well or one of their players is having a rough game. Frustrated, the coach yells (loud enough to make sure the crowd hears) something like, “Why don’t you do what I told you to do in practice?!” Along with the verbal rebuke, the coach’s body language communicates that he or she has been saddled with the burden of having to coach an incompetent or un-coachable team. It seems like the coach’s priority is to make sure everyone knows it’s not their fault that their team is underperforming. 

This is a “coaching foul”: an unhelpful and potentially hurtful attitude and behavior. The coach may think he or she is protecting their reputation (“The problem isn’t me; it’s my players.”). In reality, they are undermining their effectiveness as a coach. As with the other “coaching fouls” in this series of devotions, let’s consider what God’s Word says about why this is not the Lord’s good design for us. We’ll then look at what God instead desires for us. 

At the root of this coaching foul—and others like it—is pride. Pride’s perspective is, “It’s about me.” The Bible is clear regarding God’s response to pride in us. God, personified as Wisdom in Proverbs 8, says, “I hate pride and arrogance, corruption and perverse speech” (v. 13). Proverbs 16:18 warns, “Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall.”

Pride dishonors God and undermines the transformational purpose he wants us to pursue in coaching. Rather than prideful words and actions, 1 Peter 5:5-6 directs us to God’s good design for us: “All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’ Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.”

Humility says, “It’s not about me.” Humility is not thinking less of ourselves; it’s thinking of ourselves less. Humility is rooted in our confidence in God and our security in our identity in Christ. Humility enables us to promote others rather than ourselves because we trust God is with us and he is for our good. He will lift us up to where he wants us in his perfect way and perfect timing.

Coaching with genuine humility is transformational. Many years ago I heard this principle of good leadership: Good leaders are quick to credit others when there is success and quick to take personal responsibility when there is failure. When a coach has the humility to take personal responsibility for a team’s failure rather than pointing fingers at others, players and fellow coaches are grateful. And when a coach has the humility to be quick to credit others for a team’s success rather than looking for praise for themselves, players and fellow coaches are much more likely to do the same.  

As we resist the pride that leads to coaching fouls, we experience God’s gracious work. When our goal is to be a coach through whom the Lord can transform lives, we prioritize genuine humility in our words and actions. Coaching with humility is far more effective over the long haul. Most importantly, when as a coach and in every area of life we humble ourselves under God’s mighty hand, he is honored and glorified.

For reflection: Confess to the Lord situations in which pride has led you to commit “coaching fouls.” Receive his forgiveness and grace, and ask him to help you walk humbly with him. Meditate on the truth that God gives us his abundant grace as we seek to live and coach with genuine humility.