Chapter 5: Is Winning Important?

Over the past 10+ years of coaching, I’ve probably been asked this question more than any other: “Is winning important?” Or sometimes, “How important is winning?” And behind those questions, I often hear an even deeper one: “Is the pursuit of winning healthy?”

It’s a fair question—especially in a world where “winning” is often tied to ego, power, or dominance.

A good friend and fellow educator once challenged me on whether the competitive nature of our young men and women is righteous. It made me pause and reflect. What are we really teaching through competition?For me, the answer is clear: Yes, winning is important—if we understand it through the eyes of God.

Redefining Winning

Winning isn’t only about the final score, the trophy, or the applause. In fact, if that's all it means to us, we’ve missed the mark entirely. Winning, when rightly understood, is about the process—the journey of growth, discipline, and character that competition shapes in us.

As Christian educators and coaches, we are not just shaping athletes—we are shaping people who will one day compete in a world filled with non-Christian ideologies, temptations, and struggles. If we don’t teach them how to pursue victory with humility, purpose, and grit, we are doing them a disservice.

Compete to Win—But Win Rightly

In sports, entering the game without the intent to win would be disingenuous. Why play at all if not to give your best and seek the best outcome? The desire to win isn't the problem—it’s how we pursue it that matters.

Winning, like other human emotions and instincts (such as anger), can be righteous or unrighteous. The pursuit of victory becomes toxic when it exalts the self and demolishes everything in its path. We’ve all seen it: win-at-all-cost cultures that crush character in favor of results. But there’s a better way.

What Makes a True Winner?

True winners are not always the ones holding the trophy at the end.

• Winners are people who know how to prepare.

• Winners are people who lose with dignity.

• Winners respect the game, their opponents, and the officials.

• Winners compete in a way that inspires others.

In contrast, losers can win championships—if winning is only measured by results. And that’s why we must teach our athletes a deeper definition of success.

Why We Must Stress Winning

Some people shy away from stressing the importance of winning because they fear becoming part of the toxic culture around it. But pulling away too far in the opposite direction leads to mediocrity. The “everybody gets a trophy” mentality may seem kind, but in the long term, it robs people of the resilience and excellence they were made for. The Bible doesn't shy away from the idea of victory.“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it.” – 1 Corinthians 9:24

This verse doesn’t glorify selfish ambition—it challenges us to pursue excellence with everything we have. To prepare. To endure. To give our all, as an offering to God.

Final Thought

Athletes—hear this clearly: winning is important. But not just the kind of winning that shows up on a scoreboard or in a trophy case. What matters even more is the kind of winning that happens deep within you—through your preparation, your discipline, your respect for the game, and how you respond to both victory and defeat.

You are called to compete with excellence. To give your best effort. To strive for greatness—not for your own glory, but to honor God with the gifts He’s given you. The world will try to twist competition into something selfish and toxic. Don’t buy into that. Be different. Be a righteous competitor.

Compete in a way that inspires others. Respect your opponents. Train hard. Play harder. And when it’s all said and done, let it be clear that you didn’t just show up—you ran the race to win, and you did it with purpose.

Winning is important—because who you become in the pursuit of it, matters most.