Football & Faith
- Leadership Harbor Coach
- Oct 21
- 3 min read
Before I became a leadership coach, I was a defensive coordinator for a high school football
team. One lesson I learned quickly: preparation wasn’t optional. If I showed up on game day without knowing the opponent’s offense, without a plan for each of my players, or without understanding the gaps in our own defense, we would get destroyed.
Every gap on the field—the space between offensive linemen—had to be accounted for. Miss one, and the opposing team would find it and run right through. Success wasn’t about luck; it was about intentional preparation, practice, and understanding the strengths and weaknesses of both our team and our opponents.
It’s the same with discipleship. Every person has spiritual “gaps”—places in our lives where fear, doubt, or distraction can creep in, or where we avoid responsibility or tough conversations. These gaps are exploited not by an opposing team, but by discouragement, temptation, and missed opportunities for growth.
Faith and leadership, much like football, require intentionality. John Maxwell, in his 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth, teaches us that “intentionality” is the first law of personal growth. He emphasizes that growth doesn’t just happen—you have to plan for it, practice it, and take responsibility for it. In football, if you neglect to prepare for a gap, the opponent takes advantage. In life, if we neglect our spiritual preparation, doubt and distraction take over.
Being intentional in faith means:
Studying Scripture: Understanding God’s Word equips us to respond wisely when life challenges us, much like knowing the opponent’s playbook equips a football team.
Reflecting on your faith story: Maxwell’s Law of Awareness reminds us that we must know ourselves to grow ourselves. Reflecting on where God has led you strengthens confidence in where He is taking you.
Anticipating tough conversations: Just as a defense studies game tape to anticipate the other team’s moves, preparing our hearts allows us to approach difficult moments with courage and grace.
Praying for opportunities and courage: Prayer aligns us with God’s strategy and ensures we’re ready when He calls us into action.
Every day is a chance to invest in the right priorities.
John Maxwell’s Today Matters, highlights 12 daily disciplines that shape success, including time mastery, planning, and acting on priorities. In football, game-day preparation matters. In life and faith, the small, consistent actions we take each day—studying, reflecting, praying, and connecting—are what prepare us for spiritual victories.
Preparation transforms fear into confidence and passivity into purpose. I’ve seen this firsthand on the field and in life. A player who knows the gaps in his position can anticipate plays, respond without hesitation, and support his teammates. A person who knows the gaps in their spiritual life—areas of fear, neglect, or avoidance—can anticipate challenges, respond in faith, and encourage others.
Maxwell’s Law of the Rubber Band teaches that growth stops when we lose tension. Staying intentionally stretched in our faith—through prayer, reflection, and engagement with Scripture—keeps us spiritually alive and ready for the unexpected. Every gap we identify and address, every daily discipline we commit to, allows us to become the person God is calling us to be.
Maximize Potential
In football and in faith, preparation isn’t just about avoiding mistakes—it’s about maximizing potential. It’s about showing up fully present, fully engaged, and fully ready. Every day matters. Every choice matters. Every gap we fill strengthens our confidence, sharpens our purpose, and equips us to lead and love effectively.
So, I encourage you to approach your spiritual life with the same intensity and intentionality you would a championship game. Study Scripture, reflect on your journey, anticipate challenges, and pray for courage and opportunity. Prepare for the gaps so doubt and distraction don’t define your game.
When we show up ready—heart, mind, and spirit—we position ourselves not just to survive, but to thrive, turning fear into confidence, passivity into purpose, and potential into impact.
Faith, like football, rewards preparation, intentionality, and daily commitment. The question is: are you showing up ready for your next play?
Go, live beyond average!
Aaron
P.S. It would be my honor to serve as your coach. Please contact me to set up a discovery session! Reach out to me or one of the Leadership Harbor coaches to set up a discovery coaching session or to join one of our fantastic leadership opportunities.
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