Coaching Perspective

In our journey toward coaching excellence, one of the most important but often overlooked areas we must focus on is perspective. If identity is who we are, then perspective is how we see the world around us—and more specifically, how we interpret success, adversity, relationships, and purpose. It’s our point of view, our lens. And just like identity, perspective isn’t something we talk about once and check off the list. It must be coached, refined, and realigned constantly, especially if we want our athletes to live with purpose that goes beyond the scoreboard.

Perspective is powerful because it determines how we think, feel, and respond. It is shaped by what we read, watch, and listen to, and by the people we surround ourselves with. Today’s athletes are bombarded with influences from every direction—social media, entertainment, friend groups, and news outlets all play a role in shaping how they view the world. In fact, this shaping of perspective isn’t new. For generations, newspapers and radio broadcasts have influenced societal norms and beliefs. What’s new is the pace and volume of that influence. Now, influencers are paid millions to shape opinion—whether that’s about a product, an ideology, or even how someone sees themselves. In this environment, it is more important than ever that we, as mission-driven coaches, help our athletes filter those messages and root their perspective in something true and unchanging.

As Christian coaches, we must teach our athletes to anchor their perspective in the truth of the Bible. God's Word offers clarity, purpose, and direction, especially in a world filled with noise and confusion. Isaiah 55:8–9 reminds us that God’s thoughts are not our thoughts and His ways are not our ways. His perspective is higher and greater. When our athletes begin to align their view of life with God’s Word, everything changes—how they compete, how they respond to challenges, and how they treat their teammates. This is what we call a “B3rd perspective”—a way of seeing the world that puts God first, others second, and self third. It’s a perspective that looks outward, not inward. It fosters humility, service, and purpose.

But this kind of perspective doesn’t come naturally. Our default is to focus on ourselves. The culture around us tells us that success is about me, happiness is about me, and even leadership is about me. That selfish perspective, left unchecked, leads to jealousy, envy, frustration, and eventually a breakdown in team culture. We must constantly coach our athletes away from that mindset. When they see only through the lens of self, it damages relationships and stunts growth. But when they see through God’s lens—when they pursue His way of thinking—they begin to experience the peace, joy, and purpose that only Jesus can offer.

One of the most important times perspective is tested is during adversity. Sports, like life, is full of hard moments. I’ve experienced it countless times—injuries, losses, setbacks, unmet expectations. But I’ve also seen how the right perspective in those moments can transform a season and shape a young person’s life. I’ve often told my team during difficult stretches that “God is helping us get comfortable dealing with hard.” No one likes it, but those who can embrace hard—those who see trials not as punishment but as preparation—are the ones who grow and succeed the most. The right perspective doesn’t eliminate difficulty, but it gives difficulty purpose. It turns complaining into learning. It creates teachable moments rather than bitter ones.

Over the years, I’ve noticed that there are two types of coaches when it comes to perspective. There are those who see obstacles in every challenge, and those who see opportunities. It’s not hard to imagine which perspective produces championship-level programs and which doesn’t. Perspective can be the difference between perseverance and quitting, between optimism and burnout, between growth and stagnation. Whether you’re a head coach, an assistant, or even a volunteer, your perspective sets the tone for your team.

Perspective also affects how we view success and identity. A healthy perspective helps us be thankful for the gifts we’ve been given. It enables us to be content with who God has called us to be. Paul writes in 1 Timothy 6:6–8 that godliness with contentment is great gain, and that if we have food and clothing, we should be content. That doesn’t mean we stop working hard or striving for excellence. A proper perspective doesn’t cause us to settle—but it also doesn’t let us get trapped in the comparison game. When our view gets out of alignment, we chase what others have, try to keep up with the Joneses, and lose sight of what God has already placed in our hands. We stop being present. We stop enjoying the process. And ultimately, we underperform because our focus is in the wrong place.

As coaches, we must model the kind of perspective we want our athletes to have. We must guard our own hearts from drifting, and continually ask ourselves: What’s shaping my perspective? Am I seeing through the lens of faith, purpose, and eternal truth—or through the lens of pressure, pride, and performance?

Coaching perspective means helping our teams stay grounded, focused, and joy-filled—regardless of the scoreboard. It means pointing them back to the truth that God is with them, that the hard times are building something in them, and that their value isn’t defined by their stat line. A biblical perspective keeps us from being satisfied with mediocrity while also protecting us from pride. It helps us chase greatness without losing our soul in the process.

So let’s keep coaching with clarity and conviction. Let’s model what it looks like to see life, sport, and leadership through God’s eyes. When we do, we’ll not only build better athletes—we’ll help form stronger disciples and leaders who are equipped to thrive far beyond the field.