FOUNDATIONAL THOUGHTS ON A CHRISTIAN PHILOSOPHY of PLAY, SPORTS, AND ATHLETICS
Tuesday, January 31, 2006Posted at 03:34 PM
by Marvin A. Zuidema, P.E.D.
Professor Emeritus
Calvin College
I wish to commend those who have written on the subjects of play, sport, competition, and educational athletics. On the Calvin campus the subject of a Christian approach to educational athletics has been highlighted by recent talks by Joe Ehrmann and Kathy DeBoer. It is wonderful to see such dialogue! The reaction statements and questions developed by Julie Walton and Brian Bolt in response to the Ehrmann talk were very thought provoking. And for the most part, I surely endorse the tenets that were set forth. I would urge all of you to reflect on the ideas presented by these writers and others who have taken the time to respond.
For those of us who have been trying to develop a Christian perspective on play and guidelines for Christian action in athletics, the way surely hasn’t been easy. We were always encountering the social changes that have radically changed sport in America. I believe that the rapid expansion of interscholastic and youth sport over the last twenty-five years has produced many practices that make sportive play a detriment to Christian living rather than an wonderful, integrative engagement for Christian living. Then there is the matter of educational athletics. Can education and athletics co-exist, or even more important, can and should competitive play be part of the co-curriculum or at least extended curriculum of schools? I must state that I have had many challenges on some of my views on this subject. Yet, interscholastic sport is alive and indeed thriving in most schools in America. And the world of youth sport is now an almost bigger endeavor than school sportive ventures. (please click on READ MORE)…
READ MORE... (2) Comments •Ehrmann Speech - To blog, or not to blog……..
Monday, January 30, 2006Posted at 11:45 AM
By Kim Gall, Ph.D.
Calvin College
January 29, 2006
I am much more a fan of face to face conversations rather than “conversing” via a blog. Probably the main reason for my inclination to not write is because I think by blogging we can get so far away from what was said or not said by someone. It’s far too easy to misrepresent someone or misread something that is written. All that being said, here I go as a first time blogger.
I attended the speech by Joe Ehrmann on January 12. It’s humorous to me, but not surprising, that hundreds of people can hear the same talk and come away with such varied reactions. It’s not surprising because all of us look at things through a different lens, one that is partly based upon our own experiences, views, and perceptions. For me, I came away with a very positive experience. I was inspired and encouraged by Joe’s story and the work he is doing at that school. The only real discomfort I felt was that from “guilt” – guilt that in 23 years of coaching I hadn’t always loved the athletes I coached as much as I should have. (please click on READ MORE)
Joe Ehrmann and the Hard Path of Following Christ
Thursday, January 26, 2006Posted at 10:41 AM
by Brian Bolt, Ph.D.
Calvin College
I, like Dr. Walton, attended the speech by Joe Ehrmann at Calvin College last week. Much like Julie (This is my first time “blogging” so I hope its ok to refer to others by their first names like a conversation in the coffee room) I felt a mixture of inspiration and discomfort from Joe’s remarks. Since then I picked up and read a copy of Jeffrey Marx’s book about Coach Erhmann, which contains some background information on Joe and the author, and chronicles one season of football at Gilman High School. Joe’s title is defensive coordinator, but he and the head coach, Biff Poggi are very close friends and seem to work more like co-head coaches. The book echoed the speech, with understandably more detail and background information. It gave me a clearer picture of what Joe was about and the message he is spreading as he speaks around the country.
I thank Julie for opening this conversation and for her insightful comments. Julie noted a few concerns which I do not share. Briefly, I think it is perfectly fine for Joe to focus his talks on boys. Joe works with boys, Joe knows boys, and I do not think we can require him to address all societal ills at one time. Joe is attempting to bloom where’s he’s been planted, which is a good encouragement to all of us.
Along the same lines, Julie was rightly concerned that the lack of fathers in some kids’ lives may be the larger problem that Joe needs to address. Again, I would contend that Joe, in his way, is addressing this problem directly. His hope is that the boys on his football team with poor parental situations will eventually make better choices than their own fathers. As the book describes, Joe has spent significant time in urban ministry. He knows the problems, and my sense is that he is trying to light a candle rather than curse the darkness. Whether or not Joe’s methods work or are the appropriate way to address coaching situations is a valid are valid questions. Finally, Julie questioned the lack of overt references to Jesus and the Christian faith. I would say Joe walks a fine line, and he is appropriately living his faith in this setting. Christians must make these choices all the time, depending on their work situations. Also, the book makes it clear that Joe is in a private, if secular, school. He and Coach Biff employ Scripture very often, far more than would be allowed in a public school setting (please click on READ MORE!)
READ MORE... (3) Comments •A Sensitive Approach to Teaching Nutrition: Dealing with Disordered Eating
Wednesday, January 25, 2006Posted at 02:42 PM
by M. Allison Williams, Ph.D.
Physical Education Department
Grove City College
I also teach nutrition in a large lecture at a Christian liberal arts institution. First I have to echo the previous comment that related eating disorders to an issue of control. I have talked to counselors and psychologists to help me understand the root causes of eating disorders. There is seldom a single cause of any eating disorder, rather it is a multilayered pathology leading to a need for efficacious personal control. Food is simply an easily accessible tool for those suffering from eating disorders.
Secondly, a new addition to my course this year was a guest speaker. An alumnus came to campus to speak in a chapel service and she spoke openly about how her faith helped her overcome anorexia nervosa. I asked her to speak in my lectures later that day and she was delighted to share her story with the opportunity for question and answer interaction with the students. She spoke to both the male and female classes and I think having an actual survivor tell her story was more impacting to the students than any amount of information I could ever compile into my lectures.
The issues of compassion and sensitivity are ever present when I address my classes on sensitive issues such as eating disorders, nutrition, and body weight/composition, so let’s continue to pray for each other’s instruction and each others students.
(1) Comments •Getting in a Player’s Ear: A Response to Joe Ehrmann’s Visit
Tuesday, January 24, 2006Posted at 04:29 PM
by Kevin Vande Streek
Men’s Athletic Director and Men’s Basketball Coach
Calvin College
There are many great things about Joe’s visit and I’d like to share a few of my thoughts, one of which is how grateful I am for the number of conversations I’ve been engaged in since the event. These conversations have taken place with parents and coaches, after church, at Calvin, and in the community. What great topics to be thinking about and discussing! A second thought, which was mentioned on the BLOG, is that Joe did not overtly speak of Christianity, which is correct. I would speculate that he did this intentionally as not to offend anyone, but more so to give people who educate in a public sector where profession of the Christian faith is not allowed a vision and words to speak.
When Joe said, “I don’t whisper Jesus’ name in my players ears” my immediate thought was, “Yes you do. You just aren’t using your voice or lips.” I would certainly say Joe lives out his Christianity as a football coach in his message and methods. Finally, the two points that struck me were to love my players and encourage them to love each other. My methods are quite different than his and I certainly question whether I do this well enough. Joe’s presentation was a great reminder for me to keep working at it. The other was to educate young people about what it means to be a human being. Success by how society defines it is grossly in error. Success is not about money, athletic success and sexual conquest. It is about relationships. The most important relationship for me is with Jesus Christ. I’m very thankful that I am in a place that not only encourages this self development and its teaching and mentoring, but it expects it. Again, I’ll keep working on it.
~Kevin Vande Streek
Joe Ehrmann, Part II
Monday, January 23, 2006Posted at 04:18 PM
by Julie Walton, Ph.D./Calvin College
Thanks to Bob T of Maryland for your comments re: Joe Ehrmann’s work in Maryland (see more about Joe at: Jeffry Marx’ book on Joe Ehrmann, “Seaon Of Life” ). We are working hard here at Calvin not only to discuss these issues, but to begin sharing the insights we gain from our discussions with the wider community. As for Joe Ehrmann’s visit here, his comments, his book, and his work with high school boys in Maryland, I don’t in any way fault his approach or his motive. Others have also shared with me this week his very godly approach with his student-athletes. That’s one thing that did not really come through very strongly in his message to our audience in the Fine Arts Center (which was PACKED!). He hammered away at the need for love to be the guiding force behind the relationships that cemented players together as teammates, but did not expound on his basis for that love, other than that’s what boys are missing in today’s world.
As for needing many more Joes, and Marv Zuidemas and Kevin Vandestreeks, I can only say, “AMEN!” We have so many wonderful examples of the sacrifice, service, and selfless work of these coaches and the countless lives they have impacted. My deepest desire is for all of us in this vocation to begin taking a vocal stand on the issues of sport and culture that confront us today: sport specialization at younger and younger ages; non-traditional seasons…
READ MORE... (0) Comments •Transforming Boys into Men: Coaches, Athletes, Fathers and Love
Monday, January 16, 2006Posted at 03:32 PM
by Julie Walton, Calvin College
Last week, former pro football player Joe Ehrmann visited our campus to speak to coaches, athletes, fathers and sons. Joe’s story is compellingly told in Jeffrey Marx’ book, “Season of Life: A football star, a boy, a journey to manhood.” (for more information, see Season of Life by Jeffrey Marx.
Joe, pastor of a large congregation, also coaches high school football in Maryland. His prevailing philosophy is that our boys no longer have men to teach them what it means to be a man, and that sport is the perfect vehicle for those lessons. Joe wants coaches to step in and step up, to mentor children, boys especially, in how to live relationally in ways that show them that life is not about winning, conquest or self-aggrandizement, but about serving others.
READ MORE... (1) Comments • Page 1 of 1 pages