CYO is intended to be a Catholic environment where sports are enjoyed and competition brings out the best in our athletes. A key part of making this happen is prayer.
Prayer can help foster good sportsmanship and a sense of team unity while also helping foster a sense of relationship between teams, spectators, and officials.
Prayer should be both an intentional action and an environmental norm at practices, games, and other gatherings for the team. Does your team share a snack outing after a game? Say a prayer before eating. A quick prayer at the beginning and/or end of practice can remind the team that there is more to the sport than dribbling and passing.
A Coach's Prayer
God, grant me the insight to see the potential in every player;
Patience to encourage improvement;
and character to always set a winning example.
May those I coach always see You in my life,
and be brought closer to You through me.
In your precious name, I pray.
Amen.
Elizabeth Blue, Colossians 3:17
The Athlete's Prayer
Lord, please clear my head of all distractions
And my heart of burdens I may bear,
So I may perform my very best,
>Knowing You'll always be there.
Please lift me up before the moment,
So through Your eyes I may see,
And have a clearer understanding,
As the game unfolds before me.
With great courage I will meet this challenge,
As You would have me to,
But keep me humble and remind me,
That my strength comes from knowing You.
Then when all eyes are upon me,
At the end of this game,
I will return their eyes to You O'Lord,
And to the glory of Your Name.
Amen.
Prayer of the Sportsman
Dear Lord,
In the battle that goes on through life,
I ask but a field that is fair,
A chance that is equal with all in the strife,
The courage to strive and to dare.
If I should win, let it be by the code,
With my faith and my honor held high.
If I should lose, let me stand by the road
And cheer as the winners go by.
A Prayer for Young Athletes
We pray for children
Who sit at the end of the bench and hardly ever get into the game
Who are the eleventh player in a ten-player game
We pray for children
Who live under the burden of high expectations
Who have always won and have learned not to need anyone else
We pray for children
Who have lost and have labeled themselves loser
Who have made mistakes and will not risk making more
We pray for children
Who feel the stress of needing to earn a scholarship to college
Who feel the pressure of winning in whatever they participate
We pray for children
Who have lost their love of sports because an adult has yelled at them or
Because they have been ridiculed for poor play or a poor performance
We pray for children
Who don’t have a ball to play with because they are poor
Who don’t have a playground where to play because their playground was destroyed
We pray for coaches
Who recognize the giftedness of all his or her players
Who have the courage to be a positive role model
We pray for coaches
Who remember to congratulate the team even after a loss
Who keep his or her head whether there is a win or a loss
We pray for coaches
Who place players before winning
We pray for parents
Who encourage and build up no matter what
We pray for parents
Who express unconditional love for their child athletes
We pray for all adults
Who allow youth to experience the power of God through sports.
Coaches Prayer
Heavenly Father, guide me as I try to coach my team to build each player‘s character and boost their self-esteem. May I keep an even temper and remember it‘s a game; let me not have favorite players, but treat them all the same. Grant me patient wisdom as I praise them or correct...remembering that I must work to earn each one‘s respect. Lord, whether we may win or lose, may all who are watching see the kind of coach at every game that you would have me be. Amen.
Team Prayer for Coaches
God, our Father, we pray for our coaches. We thank you for their unselfish dedication to the team. We thank you for the hours they have dedicated to our team, and for the honor they bring to our parish by their leadership and commitment. Lord God, bless our coaches in the name of Jesus, our Lord. Amen.
Blessings on the Season
Loving God, you give each of us special gifts and You call us to serve You and one another in particular ways. Help us to do the very best we can sharing our talents and skills. Bless our team and season. When we have the opportunity to excel, encourage us toward excellence in heart, mind and body. When challenges and obstacles come our way, remind us to fulfill our responsibilities and commitment to TEAM. Help us, Loving God, to always do our best at whatever we do. We pray this in the name of Jesus, our Lord. Amen.
Prayer Before a Game
God our Father, help us to put forth our best effort, to represent our parish with class, to respect our opponents, and to grow as disciples of your Son, Jesus. Keep us safe from injury and harm through the intercession of Our Lady, the Mother of your Son and our Mother, too. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen. Saint Sebastian, pray for us!
Play Like A Champion Post-Game Prayer
Thank you, Lord, for the chance to compete and use our talents through sports. Remind us that we are called to give our best and to finish the race while caring for others along the way. We pray in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Player Prayer
God, let me play well but fairly. Let competition make me strong but never hostile. Forbid me to rejoice in the adversity of others. See me not when I am cheered, but when I bend to help my opponent up. If I know victory, allow me to be happy; if I am denied, keep me from envy. Remind me that sports are just games. Help me to learn something that matters once the game is over. And if through athletics I set an example, let it be a good one. Amen.