sacrafice
 
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INTRODUCTION TO START PRACTICE/GAME

Our virtue this week is SACRIFICE - The strength to forgo one’s own benefit for the good of others. What are some ways a teammate could make a SACRIFICE?

STORY TO TELL

WOULD YOU STOP?

Josh Ripley didn't have to stop. Running in a cross country meet, the junior varsity runner was making his way through the trail at the Applejack Invite when he heard a loud scream during the first mile of a two-mile race. Most of the other kids running didn't pay much attention to the young man who was writhing in pain at the time, as they passed by.

The only person who decided to pay attention was Ripley. Josh immediately noticed the injured runner holding his bloody ankle. Then, instead of running back and calling for help, he did the only thing he could think of: He carried the injured runner a half mile back to coaches and family members.

"I didn't think about my race, I knew I needed to stop and help him," Ripley said in the school district release. "It was something I would expect my other teammates to do. I'm nothing special; I was just in the right place at the right time."

When the injured runner arrived at the hospital, doctors realized he had been accidentally spiked by another runner's shoe during the race. The injury required 20 stitches and a walking boot to keep the wounded area from opening up.

Amazingly, the story gets even better from there.

After dropping off the injured runner with his coaches, Ripley proceeded to go back and finish the race -- even after carrying a kid for a half mile on the running trail. Admittedly he was a bit winded, but still completed the course as scheduled.

It's safe to say the average athlete would have taken a breather and called off the rest of the race after such a harrowing and intense experience. Luckily, Ripley is clearly not the average athlete.

QUESTION TO ENGAGE PLAYERS

Instead of asking a question up front - have your players do a piggy back relay race where they have to carry each other. Then ask them what it was like to carry someone …

RESOLUTION TO WORK ON DURING PRACTICE/GAME

Let’s practice the virtue of SACRIFICE right now by helping our teammates succeed and have as much as fun as possible. Let’s be happy for our teammates when they score or improve.

Coach, look for players praising teammates and congratulate them for living the virtue of SACRIFICE right then and there when you see/hear it.

MENTORING MOMENT

Ask individually as many players as you can during practice the below.

Tell me about a teammate who has made a SACRIFICE for our team.

Tell me about a SACRIFICE someone has done for you in your life.

WAY TO LIVE THE VIRTUE OF SACRIFICE THIS WEEK

Volunteer to help your teacher with a particular task this week.

Remind players to tell their parents and siblings the story.

SACRIFICE QUOTES FOR THE WEEK

*Each day this week communicate the quote of the day. In person, email, text, tweet … whatever works best for you

MONDAY

“If you sacrifice early, you'll win late.” - Charles Haley

TUESDAY

“You can't make a great play unless you do it first in practice.” - Chuck Noll

WEDNESDAY

“No one wants to hear about the labor pains, they just want to see the baby.” - Lou Brock

THURSDAY

“I run on the road long before I dance under the lights.” - Muhammad Ali

FRIDAY

“Any guy who can maintain a positive attitude without much playing time earns my respect.” - Magic Johnson

SATURDAY

“To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice your gift.” - Steve Prefontaine

SUNDAY

“Somewhere, someplace, there is a person practicing while you’re not, and when you face that person, he will beat you.” - Anonymous

BIBLE QUOTE

1 Peter 2: 19-25

For whenever anyone bears the pain of unjust suffering because of consciousness of God, that is a grace. But what credit is there if you are patient when beaten for doing wrong? But if you are patient when you suffer for doing what is good, this is a grace before God.

For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in his footsteps. “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.”

When he was insulted, he returned no insult; when he suffered, he did not threaten; instead, he handed himself over to the one who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body upon the cross, so that, free from sin, we might live for righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you had gone astray like sheep, but you have now returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.

SAINT

St. Agnes

She died a virgin-martyr at the age of 12 or 13.

 
 
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