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Take Five for Faith
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Homily stories

25 Sep 2011 - Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A

When I taught high school, I spent a number of years coaching the freshman soccer team. Then I became a soccer referee. That was back when I could still run up and down a field for an hour blowing a whistle. What I liked about the game of soccer and especially about reffing was that no arguing with the referee was tolerated. If you tried it, the ref would give you a "yellow card," holding it up to your face without speaking a word. It was your only warning. Do it again and he would "red card" you, kicking you out of the game if you were a player or off the field if you were the coach. It was the ref's way only. It taught players patience. It taught them to concentrate on the game and not blame the officiating for their problems. It taught us all to keep our mouths shut. Consequently, when I became a referee, I took the responsibility to be fair and accurate seriously. Scripture reminds us that God is just and forgiving. But our actions and our choices will ultimately decide our fate. We can argue all that we want and say what we think needs to be said as we compare ourselves with others. But it is to no avail. God judges us by God's standards and not by our perceptions.

Authors Father Dominic Grassi

fairness coaching referee standards just forgiving

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Homily stories

03 May 2020 - Fourth Sunday of Easter; Good Shepherd Sunday, Cycle A

I was thrown into coaching freshman soccer with no experience coaching ever. Seventy-five students tried out for 25 slots. I followed instructions given to me by the varsity coach. Some students couldn’t handle the running drills while others exhibited no ability at all. Those cuts were the least painful. Skilled players were easy to keep—usually. It was the last spots that made for the hardest decisions. I had one opening left on the team. The choice was between a marginally talented but hardworking player with a great attitude and a guy with experience but who never listened to me or other players. The varsity coach clearly wanted me to keep the experienced player. I decided to wait until after we scrimmaged with the sophomores who I knew would beat us easily, which they did. The two played as expected. The former never gave up and used his limited ability generously to pass and support his teammates. The latter selfishly tried to do it all himself and blamed everyone else for his mistakes. I had to make a choice with the varsity coach standing there as we sat in a circle. But before I could announce my decision, one by one all the players stood and gathered behind the team player. Without a word, they spoke, I decided, and at that moment we became the team that would win our league. With the challenges we face due to a pandemic that touches all our lives, may our actions more than our words express the love, the care, and the concern we must have for all—our families, our neighbors, our country, our church—all the family of humanity. Be a team player—we’re all in this together.

Authors Father Dominic Grassi

team players coaching

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