Appendix- Athlete Self-Evaluation
Appendix B — Athlete Self-Evaluation
The self-evaluation tool on the following page is designed to be something that you can distribute to your athletes at the beginning of your season (the first day of practice is a great time), as you introduce them to the study and pursuit of the discipline of joy.
Before you distribute the information to your athletes, you’ll need to understand the categories of “Disciple Athlete”, “Apprentice Athlete”, and “Servant-Leader Athlete”. The following information is not necessarily intended to be read directly to you athletes, but to give you an understanding of the categories as they relate to athletes at different levels of maturity and development. You can then decide how you want to present the information to your athletes; usually it’s easiest and most effective to divide athletes by grade levels (freshmen, sophomore/juniors, seniors).
The first level is the Disciple Athlete; he needs to be taught the fundamentals, and his development requires a lot of oversight. Repetition of basic habits is critical at this stage; this athlete’s focus is on training. The second level is the Apprentice Athlete; he is committed to and actively working on improving. His faithfulness to the task can be trusted, so he needs less oversight; this athlete’s focus is on practice. The third level is the Servant-Leader Athlete; his habits and example have elevated him to a leadership position, and he understands that leadership is defined by a responsibility to serve others. He does things with care, and he gives oversight to others. His sees the “big picture” of team and is motivated by helping others to learn and grow; this athlete’s focus is on maintaining the health and success of the team.
These different levels are often closely associated with age. You might identify freshmen as Disciples, sophomores and juniors as Apprentices, and seniors as Servant-Leaders — and that’s an alright starting point. However, keep in mind that you will have older athletes who are less mature (and not ready to lead), and you will have younger athletes who are more mature (and capable of more demanding challenges). Treat each athlete as an individual; don’t assume that an athlete of a certain age should be “lumped in” with others his age, when using these challenges to encourage and guide him in his submission to discipline throughout the season.
Encourage your athletes to read over the appropriate category (based on their grade level); then ask each athlete to evaluate whether each characteristic or behavior is a strength or a weakness of his, and to identify one particular way in which he would like to grow or improve this year. (This can be done privately, or you can allow time for athletes to voluntarily share with one another, if you’d like.)
At the end of the season, ask your athletes to use the “joyful athlete” list (which you will compile throughout the season) to evaluate their submission to and growth in the discipline of joy. You can also have all athletes (except seniors) look forward to the set of “sport applications” of joy for the next level, and to identify goals for growth for the year ahead.
“Sport Applications” of Joy
Athlete Self-Evaluation
How does a Disciple Athlete train in joy?
· Don’t let your thinking be dominated by the joy associated with victory, heroism, or the thrill of “game day.” Set goals for improvement, and improve your ability to master drills; take joy in that progress.
· Practice in such a way that you can look back on your actions with joy, knowing that you gave your best effort.
· Learn to find joy in being instructed and corrected, because that will be for your good and the good of the team. Seek forgiveness for times when you did not listen or did not hustle.
· Develop good life habits that will enable you to fulfill your responsibilities as an athlete.
· When you struggle to understand the purpose of a drill or a coach’s instructions, ask your coaches and team leaders to help you understand. Don’t act based on how things seem to you; determine what is true, and act based on that understanding.
How does an Apprentice Athlete practice joy?
· Approach every practice with a “big picture” goal. Work with an eye on long-term goals (ones that are important, ones that are lasting). Through this example for others, you are learning how to give leadership.
· Pray daily for the strength to practice and compete with an eternal perspective.
· Find ways to allow Disciples to join in your joy. Be intentional in this, and your joy will become contagious.
· If you only display joy as an athlete, but not in class and at home, your understanding of joy is lacking. Pray about the areas in which you struggle; ask God to discipline you to learn joy in all areas of you life, “so that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete” (John 15:11).
How does a Servant-Leader Athlete maintain joy?
· Encourage joy among your teammates — every day, throughout every practice, repeatedly, vocally, and through your example. You can never call out too many encouragements; you can never have too much genuine joy.
· When you see a teammate struggling, help him to find a goal that he can achieve. When you notice a discouraged or unconfident teammate, help him to reconsider his attitude about himself; help him to see himself as God sees him.
· Wage war against trash-talking on your team. Respond to opponents’ trash-talking with focused effort and kind words. Don’t permit teammates to trash-talk in practice, in games, or in school. Institute a practice of “words of lasting value” on your team. Help your teammates to recognize the long-term effect of their words; lead them in learning to accomplish an eternal purpose in their habits of speech.
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