What is a Character Coach/Chaplain?
“Above all else, guard your heart,  for it is the wellspring of life.”
This ancient wisdom still holds true! If anyone knows this, it is the coach.  The content of a players heart will eventually play itself out in some way. One of the most important roles coaches play in preparing players for competition and life is to give them a chance to develop good character. 

We expect a game plan for coaching the x’s and o’s of our sport. What isn’t always clear is how to coach character. Individuals who are serving teams in the capacity of Character Coach or Chaplain have been around for 100-plus years. Our military learned, as far back as the Revolutionary War, that during times of war Chaplains were critical to counsel and motivate fighting men. As you prepare your athletes for the battle of competition, a Chaplain that comes alongside you to serve you is a time-tested game plan of success.

What does the role of a Character Coaches/Chaplain look like?
Character Coaches/Chaplains could take on a number of different roles, but listed here are many of the common ones.

• Lead and coordinate chapel services.
• Provide personal care to players, coaches, and support staff.
• Alert the coach to critical issues that could affect his or her program.
• Be available and equipped at all times to help in crisis situations.
• Provide training and resources for character development and life management skills.
• Pray for, encourage and exhort players, coaches, coaches’ families and support staff.

Who are Character Coaches/Chaplains?
A wide variety of people can serve the people of sport as Character Coaches/Chaplains.  One need not be a sport ministry professional to faithfully serve and to significantly impact the lives of this under served people group.  Among those who could serve in these roles are:

• Parents of players in youth sports (school based teams or club sports)
• Coaches of youth sports teams, school based teams or coaches at higher levels of sport.
• Community leaders with interest in ministry through sport.
• Athletic trainers or other support personnel with sports teams.
• Pastors or other ministry professionals.

What does it take to be a Character Coach/Chaplain?
FCA wants to provide teams with the best trained, most effective Character Coaches/Chaplains that they can, so we have created a process:

1. Completion of the on-line F.C.A. Character Coaches/Chaplains Training (TeamChaplains.org). Which includes an application process called the Ministry Leader Application.
2. Initiation of a relationship with an F.C.A. staff member in your area for further training, encouragement, facilitation and accountability
3. Communication with the F.C.A. staff prior to the season for planning, prayer, resources, etc.
4. Communication with the F.C.A. staff during the season for encouragement, problem solving and further direction.
5. Communication at the end of the season for evaluation, reporting of results, etc.
6. Connection with the F.C.A. Character Coaches/Chaplains Network for ongoing training, encouragement, resources, information on regional training opportunities and more from those who are actively engaged as Sport Chaplains.  The details of this will be covered in the training.

How do I get started?
Getting started is easy.  Simply contact your local FCA staff person.  If you don’t know who that is enter your zip code into our "Find Local Staff" tool on FCA.org