If you know me, you know I’m passionate about the process—not the outcome. The journey, not the destination.
One of my favorite athletes, the late great Kobe Bryant, said one of my favorite quotes of all time: “Don’t get bored with the basics.” That line captures why I love FCA Sports and why I’m so passionate about leading our leagues.
My hope is that our coaches and you as parents won’t get caught up in wins or weighed down by losses. I hope your athlete won’t get too high after a great performance or too low after a tough one (and the same goes for you on the sideline). Instead, I hope we can all fall in love with the grind. The work done when no one is watching. The effort given when you’re not feeling your best. Whether it’s a winning season or a losing one, whether your child is playing a lot or sitting more than they’d like, whether they click with the coach or struggle to, the truth remains: hard work works.
This is why I believe in sports. And it’s why Away Game (Order Book Here) puts it this way: “Sports provide daily opportunities for our kids to follow in the steps of Jesus.” Following Jesus isn’t about one big decision—it’s an everyday grind. Some days are great, others are not. But like every relationship, it’s ongoing. It’s a process. A journey.
Meet Ray
The driveway hoop was a little bent, and the ball had lost some of its bounce, but that didn’t stop Ray. As soon as he got home from school, he dropped his backpack, laced up his shoes, and grabbed the ball.
Most kids on his block were inside playing video games, but Ray set up three old cones in the driveway. He dribbled through them again and again—left hand, right hand, crossovers—then moved to free throws. Ten shots. Twenty. Thirty. Miss after miss didn’t discourage him. He chased down the ball, reset, and shot again.
Ray’s mom peeked out the kitchen window. “Ray, don’t you want to take a break?” she called. He shook his head. “Coach always says, the only way to get better is to keep showing up.”
It wasn’t a game. No scoreboard. No fans cheering. Just the basics, repeated in the quiet. That’s the grind. And slowly but surely, Ray was learning that what he did in practice—the unseen work—was shaping who he was becoming on and off the court.
Takeaway: Let’s teach our kids to fall in love with today. Win the day. Step into growth today so we can learn to know God better and better.
Win The Day,
Troy Farley
FCA Sports Leagues Director