Dear Coach, (HARD TRUTH)

Do The Work, Be Your Standard.

Coaches love to preach discipline, commitment, sacrifice, and grit— they demand athletes wake up early, train hard, push through pain, and master self-control. But here’s the truth most won’t say out loud:

If you preach discipline but live undisciplined, you’re not a mentor—you’re a hypocrite.

Your body is not about vanity—it is a resume of discipline, a reflection of self-control, and the first proof that you practice what you preach.

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Biblical Backbone: Self-Control Isn’t Optional

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 (ESV)

“Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit… glorify God in your body.”

1 Corinthians 9:27 (ESV)

“But I discipline my body and keep it under control…”

Proverbs 25:28 (ESV)

“A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.”

Scripture doesn’t excuse lack of discipline—it condemns it. The Bible calls self-control a spiritual duty.

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Too Many Coaches Quote Scripture, But Don’t Live It

They’ll post Philippians 4:13 and John 3:16, but ignore the verses that demand accountability of the body. Why? Because those verses convict.

You can’t command, “Push harder,” while living on excuses.

You can’t demand excellence if you tolerate your own mediocrity.

You cannot lead from the sideline of undisciplined living.

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Leadership by Example: “Do As I Do”

The model is not:

“Do as I say.”

It must be:

“Do as I do.”

A coach must embody:

 • Self-control

 • Endurance

 • Mental toughness

 • Physical ownership

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Your Body Is Part of Your Program

This isn’t about abs—it’s about authority.

A disciplined body says:

“I have conquered myself, so I can lead you.”

An undisciplined body silently says:

“I expect from you what I refuse from me.”

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The Hard Truth About Influence

To the youth athlete, especially in today’s world, an overweight, sloppy-looking coach is not a role model—they’re a contradiction. Young athletes don’t care about what you used to do. They don’t care about your highlight reel from 20 years ago.

They’re asking one question:

“Coach… what can you do right now?”

Respect is not inherited—it’s earned daily through example.

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If you want to shape champions, be one.

If you want warriors, live like one.

Because the greatest form of coaching is not instruction—It is incarnation. Live what you teach.