Pride is a state of mind vital for any champion to have—pride in yourself, your accomplishments, your team, and your school. But there is a flip side to pride—boasting and self-interest that can bring a championship-caliber team to its knees. So how does a coach ensure his or her team does not fall into the negative state of pride? Humility. Webster defines humility as modesty in self-examination and humbleness. For a Christian, the definition is simpler—to become like Christ. Jesus had every opportunity to boast and brag. After all, he was the Son of God.

Instead, he humbled himself as “a slave.” Jesus is the model for Christians to follow, especially in humility. He allowed Himself to be beaten and ridiculed, and then died a most horrific death.

How does humility assist someone in athletics? It develops a strong work ethic, enables someone to be coachable, and makes a person pleasant to be around. Through humility, a player can overcome the trap of pride that leads to destruction. He or she will be accepted by coaches and teammates, and will be viewed as a positive influence for the team.