FPCA Athletics Mission Statement

The mission of the FPCA athletic program is to compete athletically at the highest level by placing the utmost importance in a “fundamentals first” mentality, the installation of simple offensive and defensive schemes, and the implementation of a strength and conditioning program based on maximizing the physical qualities listed on FPCA’s “Wheel of Athletic Development”; all while maintaining a primary focus on the development of Christian character in each individual associated with the program through the teaching of six Core Values: Courage, Integrity, Patience, Humility, Discipline, and Enthusiasm.

Character Development as a Top Priority

As coaches, we should strive to instill and foster Christian character within our student-athletes. Our primary job as a coach is to “build into” the lives of each and every student we have the opportunity of coaching or teaching.

If Christian character development is placed at the very top of the priority list, we can expect our student-athletes to make better decisions and develop a “do right” attitude. A student with a “do right” attitude can be expected to:

  • Study harder and take more pride in their academics
  • Be more respectful of authority figures
  • Make better choices away from school and while among friends from other schools
  • Be more dependable and do what they say they will do
  • Work harder in the weight room and on the practice field/court
  • Be more coachable
  • Be an example for our younger/future student-athletes to follow
  • Be relied upon to play their hardest until the final whistle blows
  • Represent our school and athletic program in a respectable manner
  • Strive to be more like Jesus Christ
  • Among others!

House of Character

As mentioned earlier, the top priority of each coach will be to instill Christian character within each of our student-athletes. Our program will refer to this as “building a house of character” (see below). Our coaches will focus on teaching six Core Values on a daily basis.

FPCA Athletics' Six Core Values

1

Courage

Closing the “gaps” in our lives; knowing what it means to “do right” and then actually doing it; practicing what we preach.

Deuteronomy 31:6 – Be strong and courageous; do not be terrified or afraid…for it is the Lord your God who goes with you; He will not leave you or forsake you.  

2

Integrity

Closing the “gaps” in our lives; knowing what it means to “do right” and then actually doing it; practicing what we preach.

Philippians 4:8 – Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable – if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise – dwell on these things.

3

Humility

Knowing we are just a grain of sand on a big, sandy beach; a blade of grass in a big yard; being a “plow horse”, not a “show horse”; putting others before ourselves, SERVE.

Mark 9:35 – If anyone wants to be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.

4

Self-Discipline

Doing what needs to be done, when it needs to be done, the way it needs to be done, and doing it that way all the time; controlling the controllable.

1 Corinthians 9: 24-27 – 24 Do you not know that the runners in a stadium all race, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. 25 Now everyone who competes exercises self-control in everything. However, they do it to receive a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one. 26 Therefore I do not run like one who runs aimlessly, or box like one who beats the air. 27 Instead, I discipline my body and bring it under strict control, so that after preaching to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

5

Enthusiasm

Passionate; treating what we are doing as if it is the most important job on earth, at the most important place on earth; “making the big time where we’re at”.

Colossians 3:23, 24 – Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically, as something done for the Lord and not for men, knowing that you will receive the reward of an inheritance from the lord – you serve the Lord Christ.  

6

Loyalty

Deuteronomy 7:9 – Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.