International Coaches Academy = Fun in Ohio!

It is mid-November and Brenda and I are on our way to the International Coaches Academy, which starts in Xenia, OH and then moves on to the Golden Eagle Retreat Center, in Palestine, OH. Yes, we have been to Palestine, and to our surprise, there are two Academy participants from Jericho, Palestine in the Middle East. We also have participants from Guatemala, Mexico, Honduras, Brazil, Benin, Togo, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, the Maldives, UAE, Egypt, The Congo, South Korea, East Asia, the Philippines, and three more countries. A few we know from the year before, our first there. Some of these are Christians, and one becomes a Believers whilst at the meeting. The Gospel is presented, and Brenda and I get to help some Christians who are struggling with a few of the fundamentals. Brenda talks with a couple in which the husband has fallen away from the Faith. She answers some questions and encourages them both. Others on staff also minister to them.

            The focus of the camp is Jesu Christ, but the program is about helping coaches do better at coaching.  I present 4 times on Recovery from training, exercise in the heat, and using science to train sportsmen, and then two sessions on Time Management. This last talk was added at the last minute, when there is  bit of time and someone realize just how busy coaches can be.  Maybe next year we can do a session on balancing work and family.

            The says are very full. But one day we get to visit the NCAA headquarters in Indianapolis and then go to an Indiana Pacers pro basketball game. We arrive at the Pacers’ arena early enough to hear a talk  by a former Women’s NBA player. She describes her rigorous training schedule. I marvel at her report that she took TWO showers each day of practice.  Wow, my skin could never take that! This is Brenda’s and my first NBA game ever. It is an interesting experience and the Pacers win by about 30 points over the OKC Thunder. We are glad we got to do it, but neither of us would spend the time or money to do it again. Sport viewing is not that popular for the two of us these days and seems to be declining further.

            This year, we wisely stay for the banquet that ends the academy on Thursday night. It is a joyous occasion. Brenda and I are both struck by the warmth and gratitude of some many who came by to thank us and have us sign their souvenir basketball. Several of these folks we have gotten to know quite well. Many will have a place in our hearts long after we have forgotten their names. Fortunately, we have a group photo and their names and countries are listed on the back.  That’s great for those of us with old brains.

            The Athletes in Action staff are all terrific, though a bit tired from all their work. We know several of these from Cru Staff Training in CO. I have been on international mission trips with two of them. It is great to be on the “same team” with such fine folk.

            What a great job we have, traveling around and meeting terrific young people from the USA and the world!  Thank you L^rd for calling us into such a great enterprise with such FINE people!  Amen.