Who are Character Coaches

Is there a difference between a Character Coach

and a Team Chaplain?

     One of the most important roles coaches play in preparing players for competition, and life, is to give them the skills 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.  Over time we have seen an ever-growing gap develop between coaching and fundamental aspects of a specific sport and the development of quality character.  Character Coaches exist to fill this crucial gap in developing the complete athlete.

     Both roles are critically important but distinctively different.  Which role you play with a team is determined by the audience. When it comes to using sports to reach out to you, Character Coaching is the ultimate "stand in the gap" position you could ever imagine.

Character Coach Chaplain
Values Based Faith Based
Teach character/leadership qualities Provide spiritual guidance and direction
Coaches can make it mandatory Coaches must make it optional
Model & Inform Model + Inform + Convert

  • Who are Character Coaches?

    A wide variety of people can serve the people of sport as Character Coaches.  You don't need to be a sport ministry professional to faithfuly serve and to significantly impact the lives of coaches and atheletes. 

  • What does it take to be a Character Coach?

    FCA wants to provide teams with the best-trained, most effective Character Coaches that they can, so we have to create a process.

    • Completion of the online application process called Ministry Leader Application. 
    • Initiation of a relationship with an FCA staff member in your area for further training, encouragement, facilitation and accountability.
    • Communication with the FCA staff prior to the season for planning, prayer, resources, etc.
    • Communication with the FCA staff during the season for encouragement, problem solving and further direction.
    • Communication at the end of the season for evaluation, reporting of results, etc.

  • Where do I start?

    As you get started recruiting, training, and empowering Character Coaches in your area, it is critically important to protect everyone involved. 


    Keep in mind the difference between a Character Coach and a Team Chaplain. The Character Coach initiative is designed to help get a "foot in the door" with School Administrators, Coaches and Athletes by providing an ongoing presence with a particular team while passing along strong, charachter building lessons that are non-religious. 


    Obviously, our hope and prayer is that these Charachter Coaches begin to lay a foundation of trust that will open doors for other opportunities to serve. 


    Below is an in-depth checklist of items to implement as you begin the process of developing a Charachter Coach strategy. 

  • Focus

    Focus on the coaches and the players. Coaches are key. Invest in them and build trust in and with them. Respond to athletes who show interest. Follow up with those who ask questions or indicate a desire for spiritual things. 

  • Title or question

    Describe the item or answer the question so that site visitors who are interested get more information. You can emphasize this text with bullets, italics or bold, and add links.

  • Title or question

    Describe the item or answer the question so that site visitors who are interested get more information. You can emphasize this text with bullets, italics or bold, and add links.

Character Coach Guidelines

FCA Character Coach Essentials

  • General Guidelines

    1. Take a relational approach; have a ministry mindset! Do ot approach this role with an agenda other than to serve.

    2. Focus on meeting people!  Give your heart to the coaches and athletes.  Express that you care about them. 

    3. Always be available...you never know what opportunities may arise simply by being in the right place at the right time. 

  • Gaining Trust

    1. Know the coaches and athletes by name; show a person interest in them and their families. You will be trusted when you show you care.

    2. BE PRESENT.  If possible drop by practice twice a week. A short time on the field will open hearts and it speaks volumes about how much you really care about them. Walk around at practice and speak to anyone and everyone....listening to ways you can best serve them. 

    3. Be affirrming and encouraging. Always look for opportunities to build coaches and athletes up.  You might be the only person who tells them you believe in them. 

  • Life Attitude

    1. Remember that you have been called to serve in this position. And that reason is bigger than athletics.  Take honor in your role, after all is is a great responsibility.

    2. Be loyal. Don't entertain or participate in conversations with people who constantly criticise the coaches. 

    3. Do not be presumptuous. If the coaches want you on the sidelines or to ride the bus for games, they will ask you. 

  • FCA Character Coach Requirements

    1. Approved Volunteer Application

         Volunteers interested in working with coaches, athletes, huddles and at camps will fill out a MLA (Ministry Leader Application) and have a background check.  You can begin your MLA HERE.


    2. Oriantation

         Volunteers will be given a comprehensive orientation on the standards, policies, and practices of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. 


    3. Know the FCA Social Media Guidelines


    4. Have a plan

    Team up with a local FCA staff member and develop a plan for communication and accountability. 


    5. You could be a life coach

    Charachter coaches could also be life coaches willing to help all of the players (including those of other faiths or no faith at all).


    6. Know your limits

    Character Coaches should only discuss faith in meetings, where students voluntarily attend or when asked a question by a student one-on-one. 


    7. Be seen

    All one-on-one meetings and counseling appointments must be done in public view.


  • Student Rights

    1. Read and be familiar with the Student Rights Handbook.  

    2. Know the students' rights to express their faith at school. 

    3. Know the rights of Volunteers to attend practice,  participate in religious clubs, team devotions, team bible studies, pregame meals, etc. 

Keys to Being an Effective Character Coach

  • Focus

    Focus on the coaches and athletes. Win their trust through serving them. Invest in the coaches, build trust in and with them.  Respond to athletes who show interest. Follow up with those who ask questions or indicate a desire for spiritual things. 

  • Attitude

    Maintain a supportive attitude and you'll be highly valued. Look for opportunities to serve. Respect and value the culture of sport. 

  • Be There

    Be at practice sessions. Those most highly committed to the team will be at practice. Be there when they lose. Stay late, commiserate with them. This builds trust an lets you see their times of sadness. Be available for meetings and lunches.  If you're available you have a ministry. If you're not, you don't. 

  • Strategies and Methods are Secondary to the Relational Emphasis

    1. If you will focus on the relationship building tips listed above, the appropriate strategies and methods will be much more easily seen and implemented. 

    2. Always ask permission beore beginning a ministy initiative. Make a proposal to the head coach for the Bible study, discussion, chapel, event, etc. Doing so honors his position and may keep you from violating a team or athletic association rule. It also further builds his or her trust of you and your ministry. 

    3. Be sure to adapt ministry methods and tools to the sport's culture. Don't simply drag the people of sport into church culture and expect it to be a good fit.  Strive to help those whom you serve to fully integrate their lives in sport with their lives in Jesus Christ. 


    To effectively serve the people of sport as their Character Coach; focus on the people and win their trust through serving them; watch your attitude; be in the right place at the right time; and keep strategies and methods secondary to the relational emphasis. 

  • Guidelines for the Character Coach Message

    • Be Brief.

    Stay under 7 minutes! Time yourself as you prepare. Don't abuse the Coach's wishes...its the quickest way to lose respect and trust. 

    • Be Personal

    Sharing a personal story or experience makes a great impact and it will help you connect with the audience.

    • Be Simple

    Do not try to cover too much information. Be simple and focused. Give them something they can remember and repeat. 

    • Be Motivational

    Remember that these athletes are about to go into  (or have just finished) intense competition. Always try to end your message with a charge for them to take action! What is it that you want them to do as a result of what they have just heard?

  • Tips for Recruiting Character Coaches

    1.  Begin with prayer.

    2. Begin conversations with potential Character Coaches to better understand their passions.

    3. Recruit someone that you know who has strong character and their life reflects Christ.

    4. Recruit a wide range of people from your community: businessmen who were athletes, former Coaches, Pastors, Youth Leaders, College Athletes, etc.

    5. Recruit someone who is enthusiastic!

    6. Recruit self starters who will follow through with their commitments. 

    7. When appropriate, have another volunteer 'tag along' or 'shadow' to learn how to be a Character Coach. 

  • FCA Character Coach Resources

    One of the roles of the Character Coach would be to give brief (7-10 minute) 'character talks' or lessons each week to the team. The following links contain 20 'character talks' or lessons that revolve around a specific character trait. These lessons are a powerful resource and are to be used as a guide for an FCA Character Coach.


    Front Lines by Roger Lipe 

Share by: