It’s hard to simplify life. Narrowing the focus seems impossible. Over this past year, you may have been asked hundreds of times, “How is it going?” Your response was probably something like, “I have been SO busy!” You never hear someone say, “I’ve had so much time on my hands, and I’m looking for something new to do.” That person doesn’t exist.

The fastest kid on my track team was an imposing figure. He was 6 feet tall and weighed 170 lbs. He was absolutely ripped and had thighs like tree trunks. When he ran, he looked like a gazelle. He had all the makings of a top-class sprinter, but there was one thing he lacked: commitment. He missed practices, showed up late for meets and had a hard time finishing workouts. Although he possessed all of the physical tools, he rarely gave his all.

I can still remember when my coaches handed out uniforms to those of us who had made the cut. We were all so proud to be wearing our school’s colors. The best part was being able to wear our jerseys to school on game days. Being identified as part of the team somehow made each one of us walk a little taller.

And now I have the blessing of seeing my young sons experience that same thrill of putting on their uniforms and being part of a team. When they put on their jerseys, they seem to grow in confidence, as if they are truly part of something special.

We coaches spend a great deal of time and energy trying to instill confidence in our athletes. Hopefully our efforts are effective not only in competition but also in every area of our players’ lives. False confidence, the sort that stems from reliance on ourselves or our circumstances, is quite common in sports because it so easily comes with much flexing of muscles. Quiet confidence, on the other hand, is the opposite of surety that is built on physical strength. Quiet confidence comes only through faith in God, and it results in an assurance that we can handle whatever we face. How often do we conduct team practice with a quiet confidence?