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Nations of Coaches<\/b><\/h2>\nWhy is March an Exciting Time?<\/span><\/i><\/h3>\nNations of Coaches is excited about March. Is it because we\u2019re a week away from Daylight Saving Time?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nDoes their excitement stem from knowing St. Patrick\u2019s Day and spring will be here in a flash? Are they enthusiastic about Mach Madness and their school\u2019s chances of winning the National Collegiate Athletic Association Championship (NCAA)?<\/span><\/p>\nWhile these facts make the month a refreshing time,\u00a0 March has a deeper meaning for this ministry. Below, I\u2019ll explain this meaning by discussing the origins of the Nations of Coaches and their mission. Then I\u2019ll explain the significance of College Basketball Day of Prayer and how fans can intercede for specific collegiate programs.<\/span><\/p>\nNations of Coaches\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\nIts Origins & Mission<\/span><\/i><\/h3>\nNations of Coaches was established in 2005 by Jim Haney to partner with college basketball programs in America. The goal of this partnership is to help coaches and athletes achieve<\/span> a higher level of play on and off the court.\u00a0<\/span><\/a><\/p>\nThis happens as Nations of Coaches work with over<\/span> 3,000 coaches <\/span><\/a>by helping athletes make the connection between their character and sports. Nations of Coaches equips teams with the resources necessary to build young athletes of high moral conduct.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nTheir <\/span>mission<\/span><\/a> is to see coaches and everyone they influence impacted for the glory of God. Fulfilling this mission is ignited by a <\/span>vision<\/span><\/a> to equip coaches to leave a legacy of excellence.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nEquipping coaching staff occurs through a variety of <\/span>activities<\/span><\/a>, such as<\/span><\/p>\n\n- A book list for leaders.<\/span><\/li>\n
- A relocation checklist for coaches changing jobs.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
- Character coach training.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
- Marriage and mental health resources.<\/span><\/li>\n
- NOC Growth Series clinics.<\/span><\/li>\n
- The Master Coach training.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Along with equipping sports leaders, Nations of Coaches also serves their wives and families through <\/span>programs such as\u00a0<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n\n- Canopy Wives Retreat.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Coaching Couples Connection.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Marriage Enrichment<\/span><\/li>\n
- NOC Wives Bible Study.<\/span><\/li>\n
- The GameChanger Marriage Retreat.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Dr. James Naismith<\/span><\/i><\/h3>\nBefore the Nations of Coaches began serving coaches and their families, they were inspired by Dr. James Naismith. Dr. Naismith is a source of Inspiration for the organization because he is the inventor of basketball.<\/span><\/p>\nDr. Naismith created the game while working as a <\/span>physical education teacher and Bible study instructor <\/span><\/a>for the Young Men\u2019s Christian Association (YMCA). His director, <\/span>Luther Gulick,<\/span><\/a> challenged him to create an indoor activity for the students to keep them active during the winter months.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nDr. Naismith spent two weeks testing different games with his classes, but failed. After many faulty attempts, he decided to base his game on elements from all sports.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nHe developed a game that involves<\/span> a ball, with no tackling. running, passing, at a goal at the ends of the floor.<\/span><\/a> As a result, basketball was invented in December 1891.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nThe game included<\/span> 13 original rules<\/span><\/a>, and athletes were held to a high standard reflective of their Christian values. Gulick upheld this standard by suspending any athlete from playing for the remainder of the year if their <\/span>play was deemed dirty<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nThis standard aligns with Dr. Naismith\u2019s vision to use basketball as a form of evangelism by <\/span>winning souls for the Master (Jesus Christ) through the gym<\/span><\/a>. Along with this vision, Dr. Naismith and Gulick held the conviction that athletes belong in God\u2019s\u00a0 Kingdom. So, they sought to develop the whole person, developing <\/span>the mind, body, and spirit<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\nThe Spirit of God allowed Dr. Naismith to see his vision come to fruition through the Student Volunteer Movement. Through local mission trips, this movement allowed college students to <\/span>help needy children<\/span><\/a> in local urban and rural areas.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nThese four-day-long trips involved musical entertainment, sports events, and Christian teachings at churches and schools. Through their efforts, <\/span>many children came to Christ<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nNations of Coaches Founder Jim Haney\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/h3>\nSurprisingly, Dr. Naismith\u2019s commitment to using basketball as an evangelism tool prevented him from accepting <\/span>income from basketball games<\/span><\/a>. He also refused to <\/span>receive compensation from speaking engagements <\/span><\/a>about the sport.<\/span><\/p>\nSadly, as society has become more secular, basketball has strayed from Dr. Naismith\u2019s vision. Today, hoops has become more about money, individual performance, and winning championships than being a platform to advance the Gospel.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nOne leader who has a burden to take back the game and restore Dr. Naismith\u2019s original vision is Jim Haney. Jim\u2019s passion for college hoops comes from his nearly fifty years of experience with the game. His experience includes<\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n- Playing college basketball for the University of Pennsylvania.<\/li>\n
- Being a graduate assistant coach for the University of Oregon.<\/li>\n
- Being the University of Oregon Head Coach for five years.<\/li>\n
- Serving as the commissioner of the Pacific Coast Athletic Association.<\/li>\n
- Serving as the National Association of College Basketball Executive Director from 1992 to 2020.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
The wealth of knowledge Jim has acquired over nearly five decades allows him to discern how far basketball has drifted from Dr. Naismith\u2019s original intent. As a result, this burden for the game is why Nations of Coaches exist today.<\/p>\n
College Basketball Day of Prayer<\/b><\/h2>\nNations of Coaches Desire<\/span><\/i><\/h3>\nConsequently, as of 2021, the Nations of Coaches declares March 1 as College Basketball Day of Prayer. March 1 is the designated day because it\u2019s the kickoff to March Madness.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nThe goal of this initiative is to unite the world to pray for College Basketball. Prayer is essential to help return the game to winning souls for the Master through the gym.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nTherefore, Nations of Coaches invites college basketball fans to intercede for coaches, staff, athletes, and their families, regardless of their background.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nBy answering the Nations of Coaches call,<\/span> 97,000 lives <\/span><\/a>will receive prayer. More specifically, <\/span>3, 880 teams, 23, 280 coaches, and 73, 720 student-athletes <\/span><\/a>across men\u2019s and women\u2019s basketball will be remembered in prayer.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
Nations of Coaches is excited about March. Is it because we\u2019re a week away from Daylight Saving Time?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Does their excitement stem from knowing St. Patrick\u2019s Day and spring will be here in a flash? Are they enthusiastic about Mach Madness and their school\u2019s chances of winning the National Collegiate Athletic Association Championship (NCAA)?<\/span><\/p>\n While these facts make the month a refreshing time,\u00a0 March has a deeper meaning for this ministry. Below, I\u2019ll explain this meaning by discussing the origins of the Nations of Coaches and their mission. Then I\u2019ll explain the significance of College Basketball Day of Prayer and how fans can intercede for specific collegiate programs.<\/span><\/p>\n Nations of Coaches was established in 2005 by Jim Haney to partner with college basketball programs in America. The goal of this partnership is to help coaches and athletes achieve<\/span> a higher level of play on and off the court.\u00a0<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n This happens as Nations of Coaches work with over<\/span> 3,000 coaches <\/span><\/a>by helping athletes make the connection between their character and sports. Nations of Coaches equips teams with the resources necessary to build young athletes of high moral conduct.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Their <\/span>mission<\/span><\/a> is to see coaches and everyone they influence impacted for the glory of God. Fulfilling this mission is ignited by a <\/span>vision<\/span><\/a> to equip coaches to leave a legacy of excellence.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Equipping coaching staff occurs through a variety of <\/span>activities<\/span><\/a>, such as<\/span><\/p>\n Along with equipping sports leaders, Nations of Coaches also serves their wives and families through <\/span>programs such as\u00a0<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Before the Nations of Coaches began serving coaches and their families, they were inspired by Dr. James Naismith. Dr. Naismith is a source of Inspiration for the organization because he is the inventor of basketball.<\/span><\/p>\n Dr. Naismith created the game while working as a <\/span>physical education teacher and Bible study instructor <\/span><\/a>for the Young Men\u2019s Christian Association (YMCA). His director, <\/span>Luther Gulick,<\/span><\/a> challenged him to create an indoor activity for the students to keep them active during the winter months.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Dr. Naismith spent two weeks testing different games with his classes, but failed. After many faulty attempts, he decided to base his game on elements from all sports.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n He developed a game that involves<\/span> a ball, with no tackling. running, passing, at a goal at the ends of the floor.<\/span><\/a> As a result, basketball was invented in December 1891.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The game included<\/span> 13 original rules<\/span><\/a>, and athletes were held to a high standard reflective of their Christian values. Gulick upheld this standard by suspending any athlete from playing for the remainder of the year if their <\/span>play was deemed dirty<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n This standard aligns with Dr. Naismith\u2019s vision to use basketball as a form of evangelism by <\/span>winning souls for the Master (Jesus Christ) through the gym<\/span><\/a>. Along with this vision, Dr. Naismith and Gulick held the conviction that athletes belong in God\u2019s\u00a0 Kingdom. So, they sought to develop the whole person, developing <\/span>the mind, body, and spirit<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n The Spirit of God allowed Dr. Naismith to see his vision come to fruition through the Student Volunteer Movement. Through local mission trips, this movement allowed college students to <\/span>help needy children<\/span><\/a> in local urban and rural areas.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n These four-day-long trips involved musical entertainment, sports events, and Christian teachings at churches and schools. Through their efforts, <\/span>many children came to Christ<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Surprisingly, Dr. Naismith\u2019s commitment to using basketball as an evangelism tool prevented him from accepting <\/span>income from basketball games<\/span><\/a>. He also refused to <\/span>receive compensation from speaking engagements <\/span><\/a>about the sport.<\/span><\/p>\n Sadly, as society has become more secular, basketball has strayed from Dr. Naismith\u2019s vision. Today, hoops has become more about money, individual performance, and winning championships than being a platform to advance the Gospel.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n One leader who has a burden to take back the game and restore Dr. Naismith\u2019s original vision is Jim Haney. Jim\u2019s passion for college hoops comes from his nearly fifty years of experience with the game. His experience includes<\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The wealth of knowledge Jim has acquired over nearly five decades allows him to discern how far basketball has drifted from Dr. Naismith\u2019s original intent. As a result, this burden for the game is why Nations of Coaches exist today.<\/p>\n Consequently, as of 2021, the Nations of Coaches declares March 1 as College Basketball Day of Prayer. March 1 is the designated day because it\u2019s the kickoff to March Madness.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The goal of this initiative is to unite the world to pray for College Basketball. Prayer is essential to help return the game to winning souls for the Master through the gym.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Therefore, Nations of Coaches invites college basketball fans to intercede for coaches, staff, athletes, and their families, regardless of their background.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n By answering the Nations of Coaches call,<\/span> 97,000 lives <\/span><\/a>will receive prayer. More specifically, <\/span>3, 880 teams, 23, 280 coaches, and 73, 720 student-athletes <\/span><\/a>across men\u2019s and women\u2019s basketball will be remembered in prayer.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nNations of Coaches\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n
Its Origins & Mission<\/span><\/i><\/h3>\n
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Dr. James Naismith<\/span><\/i><\/h3>\n
Nations of Coaches Founder Jim Haney\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/h3>\n
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College Basketball Day of Prayer<\/b><\/h2>\n
Nations of Coaches Desire<\/span><\/i><\/h3>\n