Philosophy
Statement of Purpose
Each human being is created by God to praise and serve Him. This encompasses every activity and every part of our being. In athletics then, as in anything else, our ultimate purpose is to glorify and honor God.
Primary Objectives
There is nothing of greater importance for any individual, including VCA coaches and athletes, than that they confess with their mouth, “Jesus is Lord”, and believe on Him in their heart (Romans 10 and Ephesians I). Nothing we do or accomplish in athletics has any ultimate value apart from this one thing.
Those who profess Christ are to be like Him. We want our coaches and athletes alike to possess Christ-like character qualities and to express them openly through athletics. In the rigors of training and under the pressure of competition, these qualities can be emphasized, practiced, and tested. This builds eternal values – attitudes and actions that are derived from God’s Word, and which can be applied to all types of life situations.
It is imperative that our teams reflect a Christ-like attitude with other team mates as well as our competitors. Given the high visibility of interscholastic sports, there is no better way for Veritas to exemplify God’s truth than by living out the lordship of Christ on our athletic fields and courts.
Participation in VCA athletics is an honor and a privilege. These athletes not only represent the school to surrounding communities, but attain high visibility and influence within the student body as well.
Hand in hand with this privilege goes responsibility. More is expected of Veritas Athletes than of the average student. They need to meet the challenge of additional demands on their time and energy without compromising their primary calling to be students. They are to be a positive influence among their peers and good role models for younger students.
Character Goals and Expectations
The following are some of the character qualities we are seeking to build in our athletes through Veritas athletics. Each is drawn from God’s Word. Our expectation is not that of achieving perfection but of growing in conformity to Christ in very visible and very practical ways.
Athletes must exhibit the following attitudes and behaviors in all aspects of athletic participation.
Respect for Authority – Obey, respect, and cooperate fully with coaches and officials.
Humility - Do not boast. Do not act prideful. Acknowledge God as the one who is ultimately responsible for your abilities and successes.
Endurance - Persevere in the face of pressure, hard work, and discouragement. Keep your eyes fixed on the higher goal. Do not quit. Do not let up.
Intensity - Play to the edge of your limits. Focus your total attention on the job at hand and put forth every effort to execute it perfectly. Do not be content with mediocrity; strive for excellence.
Enthusiasm - Carry out each task promptly and eagerly. Enjoy the game!
Faith – Believe that the Lord is ultimately in control in every situation and allow Him to carry out his will in your life.
Respect for the Opposition - Be courteous. They deserve your best effort regardless of the score. Treat your opposition as you would want to be treated.
Responsibility - Be where you need to be when you need to be there. Do what is expected of you even without direct supervision. Choose to work and to make wise decisions on your own initiative.
Integrity - Be honest. Earn a good name as one who is trustworthy. Play by the rules of the game. Have a sense of fair play that comes from a real commitment to the truth.
Teamwork - Do not be selfish. Spur each other on to excellence. Cheer for each other. When someone is struggling, stick with them. Be a team!
Servanthood - Look for ways to serve your teammates, your coach, and your school. Remember Jesus’ example.
Self-Control - Know yourself. Know how you tend to act under stress. Recognize areas of weakness, and train yourself to respond in a godly way.