Competitive Youth Athletes: Do They Have to Choose Between Sports and God?

Jennifer Livingston, PhD, ATC, Kinesiology

The breadth of opportunities Christian youth athletes have to demonstrate their faith and values or succumb to a competitive, win-at-all-costs environment compelled me to explore how children can develop spiritually while participating in competitive sports. During the fall of 2017, families were surveyed and interviewed to better understand how Christian values are promoted in homes with young athletes. Attendees of this session will hear highlights from the stories shared by families across the country, and will also consider the impact of sports on a child’s spiritual development by discussing how churches support the families, how families decide between church and sport events, how parents ensure that their children are growing in their faith, and other strategies or activities that supplement (or replace) church attendance. Although the research project was focused on athletics, the concepts can apply to various activities and family situations.