Coach, Is He Gonna Be OK?

Recently we have a very challenging football game.  It proved to be the last of the season.  We lost on the last play of the game.  Nearing the end of the game we had one of our amazing players get hurt.
The personnel on the side lines decided it was in the student's best interest to call the ambulance.

All of our players were affected by what was happening on the sidelines.  To be honest here was a little look of fear in all the boys eyes.  Then one of the players said to me, "Coach is he gonna be ok?" To which I immediately responded, "Yes he will be fine." Not necessarily because I knew that for sure, but because I wanted to give the boys some assurance and hope.

Soon after that the other team got the ball and scored on the last play of the game to end the game.  I will never forget going back to the team after the game and sharing with them that they are all champions, that I was proud of them and that they scored 30 more points on the team than they did the last time we played them.

After the game I was told the young lad would be fine and I felt so much better.  As I drove home I remembered the question, "Coach is he gonna be ok?"

Football is a very physical sport but it is also a sport that promotes family.  I knew when I was asked the question and when I looked into the eyes of the boys around me that we were all family and everyone was concerned.  I will never forget that huddle when I saw the look in each of the boys eyes.

Let's take the time to ask the question, "Is he or she gonna be ok?"  Let's not race through life and not stop to ask the question.  Maybe there is someone at work, at school, in your family, in your neighbourhood and everything is not ok.  Don't ignore it! Ask the question.  Sometimes we are afraid to ask the question because if they say no, or they start to talk, we don't know what we will do next.  Trust your instinct it is a God given quality! Don't ever be afraid to ask, if everything is all right.

Another season has come and gone and it will only be a couple of months and I will be back on the high school gridiron.  Over the summer take sometime to ask the questions.  Parents, hugs your kids and take some extra time to hang out around a campfire or by the beach.  Time is flying by.... there is always time to ask, "Coach, is he gonna be ok?"

See You on the Field!
Coach Birley

Nice Catch _____ !
I just wanted to share a wonderful moment that I saw a couple of weeks ago.
We were practicing football with our young team in SF.  One of the lads that plays running back was replaced by another young lad who was not as "seasoned" at that position.  On the snap of the ball the new running back went out for a pass, he caught the ball and was tackled by the original running back who was now playing defence.  When the tackler got up, he handed the ball to the young man and said, "Nice catch ____ " (his name in the blank).

It was just 3 words, "Nice catch _____".  I will never forget this.  The young lad who said these words, is a very good football player.  He doesn't say a lot, but those three words were filled with life, encouragement and changed the atmosphere on the field that day.

Words are very powerful things.  In the Bible it's say that "life and death are in the power of the tongue."
I learned a lesson from a young lad playing football.  Who took the time to speak words of life!!

So what is the lesson, the challenge from this.  We all have an opportunity to learn from this young man who spokes words of life.  Today would be a great day to offer words of life!  It doesn't have to be a lot of words, sometimes it's just 3.  But take the time and speak words of life: in your home, at school, at work, in the store, to a total stranger.  IT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

Until next time.

Coach Birley