FOR COACHES ONLY
WEEK OF MAY 17, 2010

BAD BOUNCES

READY:
“A prudent person sees trouble coming and ducks; a simpleton walks in blindly and is clobbered.” – Proverbs 27:12 (The Message)

SET:
As coaches, we have all experienced our share of “bad bounces”. Regardless of the sport, routine situations can take sudden and dramatic turns. An easy grounder to second base hits a rock in the infield and hops over the player’s shoulder; a keeper is in perfect position for the save, but the ball bounces off a teammate’s foot and goes in the net for an “own goal”; or a sure touchdown pass is tipped at the last second and intercepted by the defender. Our first response is to say it was just a tough break and there was nothing that could have been done to prevent it. A wise coach once said, “great players anticipate the bad hops and make the play with no excuses.” Who is right?

Proverbs 27:12 reminds us that things will not always go our way. Things happen, but we must be careful not to see ourselves as victims. It is easy for us to become negative and focus only on the bad bounces. God wants to help us find a balance. He wants to teach us to anticipate the “bad bounces” that come our way, deal with them and move on. Troubles and difficult times will come as we go through life. What matters most is how we react to the “bad bounces”. We can become paralyzed with fear or we can let God help us through the hard times. Are you walking blindly toward your hard times expecting to be clobbered or are you walking with God, trusting in Him to tell you when to duck?

GO:

1. What are some of the “bad bounces” you have experienced lately?
2. How did you react to these “bad bounces”?
3. How can God help you deal with the “bad bounces” that come in your life?

WORKOUT:

Jeremiah 29:11
1 Corinthians 16:13
Hebrews 12:2