The Athlete’s 10 Commandments
Being an elite athlete isn’t just about what you do during practice and games (although it helps). It’s about the other 23 hours and some change on a daily basis that separates champions (on the field and with your walk with God). To give you some rails on what it looks like to compete in a biblical way, I’ve come up with the Athlete’s 10 Commandments:
- Get enough sleep.
- Mind your nutrition.
- Bring a good attitude.
- Arrive 15 minutes early.
- Come prepared.
- Be respectful.
- Listen and be coachable.
- Give max effort.
- No excuses or complaints.
- Do the extra work.
Champions are more than players and athletes. They are what it looks like on a daily basis to thrive athletically and spiritually to attain what they are capable of. To do that, we live by a specific code, commandments. These aren’t suggestions—they are the 10 Athlete Commandments. If you can’t follow these, you’re not just letting yourself down; you’re letting down the team.
The Foundation
Success starts before you ever step into the arena. If your engine isn’t fueled, it doesn’t matter how hard you press the gas.
- Get enough sleep (Condition): Rest isn’t laziness, it’s stewardship. Your body heals when you’re out cold, not when you’re scrolling on your phone at 2 AM. (Psalm 127:2)
- Mind your nutrition (Self-Control): Stop treating your engine like a dumpster. You wouldn’t put cheap gas in a Ferrari. Eat for performance, not just for taste. (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
- Bring a good attitude (Enthusiasm): A positive, high-energy attitude heals a player and team. Positive energy is contagious. Is yours worth catching? (Proverbs 17:22)
The Standard
Being an athlete is a reward. Treat it with the respect it deserves.
- Arrive early (Loyalty): If you can’t be trusted to be on time, you can’t be trusted in the 4th quarter. If you’re “on time,” you’re late. Use those extra 15 minutes to lock in. (Luke 16:10)
- Come prepared (Skill): God provides the win, but you provide the preparation. Check your bag twice. Knowing where your gear is means your brain is free to focus on the play. (Proverbs 21:31)
- Be respectful (Friendship): You don’t play for yourself, you play for every one helping you be your best. Respect the officials, the opponents, your teammates, and the game itself. (Romans 12:10)
The Mindset
This is where we separate the “good” from the “great.”
- Listen and be coachable (Cooperation): I don’t yell because I’m mad; I’m “loudly encouraging” you because I see potential you haven’t reached yet. Open your ears, close your mouth. (Proverbs 12:1)
- Give max effort (Industriousness): Don’t play for anyone other than the one who gave you the gift. You control two things: your work ethic and your attitude. Give 100% of both. (Colossians 3:23)
- No excuses or complaints (Poise): Excuses are just creative ways of lying to yourself about why you didn’t work. If you messed up, own it, fix it, and move on. (Proverbs 22:13)
- Do the extra work (Initiative): Champions are won when the stands are empty and you are separated from crowd. What are you doing when nobody is watching? (Matthew 5:41)
Coach’s Note: “The difference between who you are and who you want to be is what you do. Day in and day out.”
Give everything, but up.
