Team Prayer Before Each Game

I did forget one thing in my last note and wanted to give everyone a heads up regarding a tradition and practice I hold important for my teams. Regardless of religious affiliation, I encourage my teams to pray and to pray vocally before each game. While this may seem odd considering the diversity of denominations and religions around, I have found the act of praying as a team to be a strength and unifying experience. As the club is technically not a UIL sponsored organization, I don't see there being any conflict in continuing forward with this practice. And if it were a UIL sponsored organization I would cite the high school soccer teams organizing themselves in prayer before matches, the football teams kneeling in prayer this season and other organizations that offer up similar acts of reverence.

I personally am a Christian and will pray accordingly but others not of my faith and belief have participated with my teams. I've enquired of those of the Muslim faith whether they would be offended by such a practice and was assured that participation would not be an issue and they would likely join in. Those without faith were confused at first but decided to participate as a team member and it helped to unify the team. Individuals of all faiths and non-faiths are encouraged to participate though are not required.

The tradition I've started with my teams follows the pattern of a coach leading the team for the first game and encouraging others to vocally pray on subsequent games. Please talk with your players about this experience and for those who may desire to lead the team in prayer, please have them speak up. I will never guilt or volunteer someone into praying as it is something very personal. I would expect others to treat individuals who do pray with respect as well.

If you have any concerns over this practice, please, as always, reach out to me personally and let's talk through it. As always, I'm hear to serve your players and do so with respect both as soccer players and individuals.