A Christian Parent's Guide to Navigating Youth SportsSýnishorn

Rediscovering Joy in Youth Sports

Did you know that nine out of ten kids play sports because it's fun? Yet, for many young athletes today, that joy has vanished, often replaced with pressure, burnout, and performance anxiety. As Christian parents and coaches, it’s worth looking in the mirror and asking: Are we unintentionally contributing to diminishing joy in their athletic experience?

One way to measure our role in this process is to assess our own relationship with winning.

Parents, God created games to be enjoyed. Yes, Scripture tells us to “run in such a way as to win the prize." Yes, competition has value. But when winning becomes the primary goal, we risk turning sports into an idol and draining the joy from an experience meant to reflect God’s goodness.

In his letter to the Philippians, written from prison, the Apostle Paul talked about a joy not based on circumstances, but one grounded in Christ. Paul’s perspective in this letter also produces one of the most misinterpreted scriptures claimed by athletes. "I can do all things through him who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13 ESV). Athletes often use this as the ultimate “I got this” verse.

They hope that, with Jesus by their side, they’re guaranteed (or at least more likely) to run their personal best, win as an underdog, or reach their personal goal in any given competition. But the promise from Philippians 4:13 is actually better than any of that.

In the previous few verses, Paul describes his ability to be content regardless of circumstances. He says he has learned the secret of contentment! What is it, Paul? How can we be content in sickness or in health, with plenty or with nothing, among friends or alone—even through youth sports successes or failures? That’s when we bump into the “I can do all things” statement. Paul argues that Jesus is the personification of joy. He is the secret to contentment. Jesus offers us a soul-level joy that remains steady whether we’re on the mountaintop or in the valley.

This is the kind of joy our kids need—not one predicated on performance, but anchored in God’s presence. It’s worth pointing out that even though most kids don’t have a vocabulary that uses this language, they long for joy and contentment, just like us. Most kids use a different word to describe the feeling that accompanies this desire: fun.

When they experience “fun” on the field—the laughter with teammates, the satisfaction of hard work, the thrill of small victories—they're tapping into something deeply spiritual. It’s probably not a stretch to argue that the sensation of joy manifests itself for our young athletes in the context of sport, most frequently in the experience of “fun.”

So what can we do to cultivate this joy that’s experienced as fun?

Actions Steps

1. Prioritize presence over pressure.

Let’s stop managing every move they make and start truly watching them—cheering them regardless of the score or how they are playing. Let’s enjoy being present. Let's put down the phones. Let's take a deep breath. And let's just watch them play.

2. Infuse fun into the journey.

Joy doesn’t need to be a reward for performance. It should be part of the process. Help your child notice the good gifts: the smell of fresh grass, the sound of sneakers on hardwood, the feeling of getting better together. Celebrate things like laughter and the occasional silliness that is bound to happen in sport.

3. Practice gratitude.

There is that gratitude word again! We can model thankfulness for the opportunity to play, for the teammates God has placed in their lives, for the ability to run, throw, and sweat. Flexing our gratitude muscles grows our joy.

4. Reframe winning.

Winning is good—but it’s not god. Help your child see that the greatest victory has already been won through Jesus. His love and approval do not depend on a scoreboard. That’s not just a churchy platitude, but something we can reinforce by telling them before they head out to play, “Hey, I love you and nothing that happens today will change that!”

Sports are a gift. But like any gift, they must be stewarded well. If our kids are going to learn that joy is found in Jesus, not in achievement, they need to see it modeled through us. So let’s take a breath. Let’s smile more from the stands. Let’s make space for laughter and play.

And let’s help our kids find joy and fun through playing—not just winning.

Prayer:

God, thank you for the gift of feeling and experiencing joy. Help us to be satisfied with you, Jesus. Bring my kid(s) joy today through knowing they are fully loved and fully accepted. Help them to play fast, free, and full of joy. Amen.

PS. This 7-day devotional was adapted from the book Away Game: A Christian Parent's Guide to Navigating Youth Sports. If you enjoyed the devotional, you will love the book!