The WTS discourages participation in sports.
g96 3/22 21-3...
Young People Ask . . .
Should I Join a Sports Team?"WHAT’S so great about being on a team?" asked an article in Seventeen magazine. In answer the article said: "You’re working together toward a common goal, so you become really close. You also learn people skills, like how to solve problems with a group, how to be flexible and considerate, and how to compromise."
Thus, playing organized sports appears to have benefits, not the least of which are fun and exercise. Some even claim that playing team sports helps one build character. One youth baseball league thus has the motto, "Character, Courage, Loyalty."
The problem is, organized sports do not always live up to such noble ideals. Says the book Kidsports: "In some instances impressionable youngsters learn to swear, cheat, fight, intimidate, and hurt others."Win at All Costs?Admitted an article in Seventeen: "There’s a darker side of sports, where people put tremendous value on winning." This runs directly counter to the Bible’s words: "Let us not become egotistical, stirring up competition with one another, envying one another." (Galatians 5:26) While a mild dose of friendly competition can add interest and enjoyment to a game, an overly competitive spirit can breed antagonism—and take the fun out of playing.
Jon, a former high school football player, recalls: "We had this coach who was a real maniac; always screaming and yelling at us . . . I dreaded going to practice. . . . I felt as if I were in a concentration camp." While not all coaches are abusive, many do place too much stress on winning. One writer concluded: "Many athletes . . . reach a point where the joy of competing gives way to an unbearable burden to succeed." What can result?
Science
News reported on a survey that revealed that among college football and basketball players, "12 percent reported problems in at least two of five areas: psychological distress, physical distress, difficulty in avoiding drugs or alcohol, mental and physical abuse, and poor academic performance." Along the same lines, the book OntheMark reports: "Almost everyone connected with organized athletics agrees that there is a major drug abuse problem in sports at all levels."Moral CompromisesThe pressure to win can also cause a young player to compromise reasonable standards of fairness and honesty. The book YourChildinSports observes: "In the modern world of sport, winning is not just good; it is the only thing. Losing is not only bad, it is unforgivable."Another harsh reality: Coaches often put players under tremendous pressure to injure their opponents. An article in PsychologyToday said: "To be good in sports, you have to be bad. Or so many athletes, coaches and sports fans believe." One professional football player describes his everyday self as "soft-spoken, considerate and friendly." But on the playing field, he goes through a Jekyll-and-Hyde transformation. Describing his on-field personality, he says: "I’m mean and nasty then. . . . I’m so rotten. I have a total disrespect for the guy I’m going to hit." Coaches often encourage such a disposition.
The Bible encourages Christians: "Clothe yourselves with the tender affections of compassion, kindness, lowliness of mind, mildness, and long-suffering." (Colossians 3:12) Could you cultivate such qualities if you received daily pep talks urging you to hurt, crush, and maim your opponents? Sixteen-year-old Robert admits: "I’ve played organized sports. You don’t care who you hurt as long as you win." Now that he is a baptized Christian, his views have changed. He says: "I would never go back to that."Bodily Training or Bodily Injury?Not to be overlooked, either, are the physical risks. True, sports entail risks even when they are played with friends strictly for fun. But the dangers are greatly increased when youths are coached into trying to perform at nearly professional levels.
The book YourChildinSports notes: "Professional players can be injured. But they are very skilled, physically fit, mature adults who willingly risk injury and are well paid for doing so. Moreover, they commonly get the best, most expert kind of training, the best equipment, and very close, top-notch medical care. . . . School kids don’t have such advantages." Christians are told to ‘present their bodies a sacrifice living, holy, acceptable to God.’ (Romans 12:1) Should you not think twice about subjecting your body to unnecessary or unreasonable risks?Other Factors to ConsiderEven when the health risks seem minimal, organized sports are still time-consuming. Practice sessions may not only cut into your social life but they may also take a big bite out of time that should be set aside for study and homework. ScienceNews reported that college athletes tended to have "slightly lower grades" than other students that engaged in extracurricular activities. More important, you might find that playing on a team makes it difficult to pursue what the Bible calls "the more important things"—spiritual interests. (Philippians 1:10) Ask yourself, ‘Will joining the team require me to miss Christian meetings, or will it limit my share in the preaching work?’
Weigh carefully, also, the possible results of spending long hours with youths and adults who do not share your views on morals, clean speech, or competition. After all, the Bible does say that "bad associations spoil useful habits." (1 Corinthians 15:33) Consider, for example, an article in the Op-Ed page of TheNewYorkTimes: "The locker room . . . is a place where men discuss women’s bodies in graphic sexual terms, where they boast about ‘scoring’ and joke about beating women." How would you fare spiritually if you chose to be in such an environment?—Compare James 3:18.Making a Wise DecisionHave you been thinking of joining a sports team? Then perhaps the foregoing will help you to count the cost of doing so. Take into consideration the consciences of others when making your decision. (1 Corinthians 10:24, 29, 32) Of course, no hard-and-fast rule can be made, since circumstances differ the world over. In some areas students may even be required to participate in sports. But if you are in doubt, talk things over with your parents or with a mature Christian.
Many Christian youths have made the tough decision not to play team sports. This is not easy if you are athletic and really enjoy sports! Pressure from teachers, coaches, and parents can add to the frustration. Young Jimmy admits: "I find it’s a struggle with myself not to play. My unbelieving father was a great athlete in his high school days. It sometimes gets tough for me not to join a team." Even so, the support of believing parents and mature Christians in the congregation can do much to help you stick to your resolve. Says Jimmy: "I am thankful for my mom. At times I am depressed over the pressure to play sports. But she is always there to remind me of my real goals in life."
Team sports may teach players cooperation and problem solving. But there is ample opportunity to learn such things by working within the Christian congregation. (Compare Ephesians 4:16.) Team sports may also be fun, but you don’t have to be on a team to enjoy them. Some sports can be enjoyed with Christian friends in a backyard or a local park. Family outings may provide further opportunities for wholesome play. "It’s so much better playing with others from your congregation," says 16-year-old Greg. "It’s just for fun, and you are with your friends!"
Granted, a backyard game will probably not give the same thrill as being on a winning team. Never forget, though, that at best "bodily training is beneficial [only] for a little; but godly devotion is beneficial for all things." (1 Timothy 4:8) Develop godly devotion, and you will truly be a winner in God’s eyes!
[Footnote]See "Young People Ask . . . Team Sports—Are They Good for Me?" appearing in our February 22, 1996, issue.
[Blurb on page 22]"We had this coach who was a real maniac; always screaming and yelling at us . . . I dreaded going to practice"[Picture on page 23]All too often, coaches stress winning—even if it means causing injury to others
g91 6/22 14-16...
Young People Ask . . .
Should I Join the School Team?
"Playing was exciting and thrilling. It gave me a good feeling. When you’re young and you finally find something you are really good at, you don’t want to let it go."—Robert.
PERHAPS you too enjoy playing team sports. You like the exercise, camaraderie, and excitement. You may even dream of being a hero, imagining the cheers of the crowd as you make the basket, the catch, or the goal that gives your team the victory.
Whatever the reason for your enthusiasm for sports, many youths share it. They particularly enjoy participating in team sports, such as football, soccer, basketball, baseball, and hockey. TheEducationDigest observes: "More than 5.2 million [U.S.] students were involved in high school athletics during the 1986-87 school year, the highest in four years. Also, high schools have added new sports in the past 10 years, many organized for girls."Why So PopularThe great popularity sports enjoy was implied by the words of a wise man of long ago who said: "The beauty of young men is their power." (Proverbs 20:29) Sports provide a refreshing outlet for the power and energies that abound during one’s youthful years. They can provide healthy challenges to both body and mind. Participation in sports can also be exhilarating and fun, a break from the routine of schoolwork and after-school chores.
In addition, some argue that playing team sports builds character. Says TheHighSchoolSurvivalGuide, by Barbara Mayer: "The training and sense of dedication that will be demanded of you will teach you how to give yourself to a worthy goal. . . . Participation in sports can help you become a leader."
Not all youths, however, have such noble motives for playing sports. Glory, fame, and prestige are also powerful incentives. "If you were on the team," remembers Reggie, "you were considered one of the coolest guys that walked the grounds."
The Bible acknowledges that "physical exercise has some value." (1 Timothy 4:8, Today’sEnglishVersion) And it might seem that joining a school team would be a way of gaining such benefit. Yet, many youths have found that the disadvantages of joining a school team often outweigh the benefits.The "Darker Side"
Seventeen
magazine reports: "There’s a darker side of sports, where people put tremendous value on winning. For a coach, winning might lead to a promotion or a television appearance. For a parent, winning might mean bragging rights or a vicarious sense of accomplishment. For an athlete, winning might mean scholarship offers, news clips, the admiration of classmates and neighbors."Some school athletes also dream about going on to become professional players. "I dreamed of playing in the city and state championships and ultimately in the pros," said young Gerald. "I saw myself getting rich, endorsing many products, being in the hall of fame, being a role model, and dating the prettiest girl in school."
Little wonder, then, that sports in many schools are played with almost life-and-death urgency! Fun and fitness fade into the background. As Seventeen went on to say: "Suddenly winning overrides concerns about honesty, schoolwork, health, happiness, and most other important aspects of life. Winning becomes everything, and the pressure builds."
With this win-at-all-costs attitude prevailing, it is no surprise that a flood of injuries has plagued school athletics. Violence by athletes, fans, and even parents sometimes accompanies games. And use of performance-enhancing drugs, such as steroids, is becoming widespread even among teenage athletes.
So while playing on a team may have some limited advantages, it may also engender an overly competitive spirit, fantasies of great wealth, and an egotistical desire for glory. These things clearly go contrary to the Bible’s counsel ‘not to be stirring up competition with one another,’ not to love money, and not to be seeking personal glory. (Galatians 5:26; Proverbs 25:27; 1 Timothy 6:10) Joining a school team could very well expose you to unwholesome influences in a very intense way.Peer PressureEducators often praise the opportunities sports offer to build close relationships with peers. Ironically, it is this very opportunity that poses a problem for Christian youths. The Bible says: "Bad associations spoil useful habits."—1 Corinthians 15:33; 2 Corinthians 6:14.
Frankly, what kind of association will you likely run into in a team locker room? Admits one youth: "There was a lot of cursing and use of bad language. The guys always talked about girls and would bring pornographic books to look at." Furthermore, developing and maintaining the team spirit usually demands that you mix socially with teammates before and after games and practice sessions.
True, it may be possible to be on a team and remain uninvolved socially. But as one 14-year-old teenage girl admits: "Peer pressure is way too high for you just to play and go home." The Bible thus asks: "Can a man rake together fire into his bosom and yet his very garments not be burned?" (Proverbs 6:27) Pressured by their teammates, some youths have found themselves at parties where alcohol and drugs were featured, not to mention debasing music and compromising situations with the opposite sex.
Consider the experience of a youth named Robert. He says: "After joining the team, the problems were enormous. There was tremendous pressure to get involved in premarital sex, drugs, drinking, and going to wild parties. I just couldn’t believe that such things could be associated with playing high-school sports. On the court as well as off, you’re expected to walk, talk, and act just like the rest of the guys."
Not to be overlooked, either, is the effect sports participation could have on your routine of spiritual activities. (Hebrews 10:23-25) "Often, games and practices conflicted with Christian meetings," says young Gerald.Healthy AlternativesOf course, some athletic training may be provided during school hours as part of the regular curriculum, and there is usually no objection to a young Christian’s attending such classes. Furthermore, circumstances vary in different lands. Nevertheless, youths among Jehovah’s Witnesses generally avoid involvement in extracurricular school sports. Now, this does not mean that you as a Christian youth cannot enjoy sports. It does mean, however, that you may have to take certain initiatives.
For example, you might talk to your parents about planning an outing, such as a picnic. This could provide an occasion for your family and friends to enjoy some wholesome sports activities. Or you might try inviting a number of Christian youths to get together and bike, play ball, or engage in races to your heart’s content.
It is important, however, that you avoid an overly competitive spirit. Having official, set teams tends to fuel the win-at-all-costs spirit even when all the players are Christians. So it’s usually best to keep things informal. In fact, having a measure of adult supervision is often a good idea.
Granted, informal games may lack some of the thrill of organized school sports. But you can still enjoy yourself. Robert decided he would quit his school’s team. But he says: "I still enjoy very much playing sports. More so now than ever before. When I play sports now, it’s not to win at any cost, nor am I filled with the competitive spirit."
Recall that when the apostle Paul told the young man Timothy: "Bodily training is beneficial for a little," he added, "but godly devotion is beneficial for all things." Clearly, being an athlete is not a Christian’s purpose in life. So keep sports in balance. Why waste time that could be more profitably spent in building up your spirituality? Remember: Godly devotion "holds promise of the life now and that which is to come."—1 Timothy 4:8.
[Picture on page 15]The win-at-all-costs spirit dominates many school sports
