Mission Moment

“Dad, do you want to play catch?”

Dear Covenant Families, 

This is my favorite question I am asked each day when I get home. As a former college baseball player, I never want to force my interests on my children, but to encourage them to develop their “loves” on their own. However, when my oldest daughter, Marlee, started playing softball this year, I was ecstatic. I have now invested hours in watching YouTube videos on softball pitching. As a coach and parent, I want my daughter to be the best softball player she can possibly be, but ultimately, my primary goal is to cultivate resilience and strong character. 

In today’s climate, it can be tempting to speed up the process of development—to hire a private coach, duplicate the latest and greatest drills in the backyard, or push her to try out for the most competitive club team. However, it is important to remember that sports are not just about intense competition or early specialization. In fact, the most important ingredient for a young athlete’s development is simply this: fun. One of the best ways to support your child’s athletic growth is to play with them. Whether it’s shooting hoops in the driveway, kicking a soccer ball around the park, or tossing a baseball in the backyard, these moments of active play not only strengthen your bond, but they also give your child the opportunity to explore a love for sports in a relaxed and enjoyable setting. Bodie Spangler wisely advised me years ago that bonding with your children requires quantity over quality. Our children won’t cherish that family vacation because it was expensive, but because of the intentional time spent with their parents and siblings. Just so, Marlee doesn’t need me to teach her to throw a 98 mph fastball; she needs me to cultivate a strong foundation of love and trust in order for her confidence to grow.  

In athletics and in life, adversity is not only inevitable, it is necessary. Winning is never guaranteed, but without character-building experiences, victory is certainly unattainable. So we instill hard work, dedication, and grit through adversity. You have to be knocked down to learn how to get back up. Athletics provides a laboratory for our student-athletes to grapple with failure, frustration, and disappointment. Confidence is not secured by being good at something, it is borne out of continued perseverance through failure and setbacks. When Marlee inevitably meets failure, she understands my love for her is not performance-based. We must allow our children to experience failure if true confidence is the goal. 

Don’t get me wrong, winning is fun! Our goal at Covenant is to pursue excellence and victory. Throughout this year, I invite you to attend as many Covenant athletic events as possible. You will see great performances by student-athletes, sound leadership from fun-loving coaches, and a pure joy for competition. You will also get to experience the beauty of the Covenant community through fellowship in the stands. But, what truly sets a classically-educated athlete apart is the recognition that winning requires discipline, but victory requires virtue. The truth, goodness, and beauty of athletics are displayed through the exercise of virtuous competition. 

While our current culture centers around results, I encourage you to focus on your child’s journey of development. As their skills develop over time, they will learn confidence, resilience, and a love for the sport. Let’s encourage our children to play, to have fun, and to enjoy the journey—no matter where it leads. And remember this process begins, simply, with a game of catch.

Non Nobis,

Jesse Olvera
Director of Athletics