sports outreach
SPORTSCLINICS+
WHAT IS IT?
Have sport coaches provide sports skill development, competition, and spiritual nurturing during an event.

AIMS
  • Connect churches with their community through sport during before and during major sports events
  • Provide quality sports skill development, competition and spiritual nurture
  • Introduce churches to ongoing sports-related ministry development
    SportsClinics+ It's about sport coaching - plus much more!
STEPS TO IMPLEMENTING THE STRATEGY
1. Identify a coordinator from your local church.

2. Develop an outreach organizing team empowered by the local church

3. Consider your target audience eg, gender, ability level

4. Research for available local resources (ie coaches, church sports helpers, equipment, facilities, training)

5. Identify where the participants can be found (eg schools, sports clubs, neighbourhood)

6. Determine the scale of sports related ministry you are willing to undertake (eg 'one-off' for the Games outreach, planting an ongoing ministry initiative in/through sport, complementing an already existing sports ministry program)

7. Assign people to key roles, (ie registration, catering, prizes, prayer, first aid).

8. Each local church needs to establish a followup by the local church of children involved from (ie, the local church coaches and helpers)

9. Training of local church coaches/helpers for ongoing sports ministry by local and incoming guest coaches

10. To invite the whole church to be involved in this community outreach opportunity

11.Share the vision with other churches/organizations within your area or network as to how a sports outreach can impact your community
  • Partnership allows access to a greater range of resources and opportunities than one church can provide
  • Partnership will reduce the 'per-unit' cost
  • Community impact is increased
  • Express the unity of the church both for and beyond the event

12. Common sense Risk Assessment and Management

13. Integrating other MSEP resources and strategies to complement your outreach and followup initiatives (www.sportsoutreach.org)
NUMBER OF PEOPLE TO GET INVOLVED
The following roles need to be fulfilled. These may be by separate people or fewer people taking several roles.

Roles:
  • Director/Coordinator - This person oversees the event organisation. They need to recruit people and delegate the tasks below. They should integrate with the church ministry the clinic is reaching and with the local community sports clubs, schools and other organisations. Evaluate the event and plan what's next!
  • Head Coaches/Clinicians - They will develop and implement the coaching program and recruit/train the assistant coaches.
  • Assistant Coaches/Clinicians - To implement a specialised part of the coaching program. They may also share their faith in large and small group and individual situations.
  • Publicity - Needing to publicise both within the church and the community. Promote as a "community sports event" rather than a "church religious event". Utilise a website, posters, flyers, but personal invitation is always the best approach. Have the church leadership 'talk up' the event. Tell your stories afterwards.
  • Prayer - Link into already existing prayer networks. Pray before, during and after the events. Pray for guidance with ongoing sports ministry opportunities.
  • Registration - Receive registration before and on the event day. Collection of money where applicable.
  • Venue - what venue is most convenient, accessible and comfortable for the unchurched - a local park or school rather than church premises. Is it safe? Will it cater for our numbers? What bad weather options exist?
  • Safety/First Aid - What risks exist and how will we lan to overcome or deal with these? Who in your church or community has medical training? Where can a full First Aid kit be located? Record all injury and incident treatment.
  • Catering/refreshments - What refreshment/meal breaks are needed? What is nutritional and full of immediate energy?
  • Sports resources - Where can I find balls, bats, gloves, bases, goals, ground markers, whistles etc. Do we borrow, rent or buy? Have one ball per participant if possible.
  • Spiritual resources - Who will do what: testimony, small groups, gospel presentation,-counselling? What sport-specific resources are needed? How can you source the Major Event resources? What devotional material, Bibles, CDs etc? What age-specific resources exist form other ministries?
  • Guest services - welcoming of children and parents. Hosting and hospitality of parents while event is happening.
  • Followup - immediate spiritual followup, linking into existing church/sports programs, followup and service within community sports clubs, occasional sports specific events - eg camps, clubs, more clinics
  • Transport - do participants need transport. Will cars or bus hire be needed?


EQUIPMENT NEEDED
Core sports equipment (balls, bats, etc) NB use of soft equipment where possible.

Organisation aids: ground markers, coloured bibs, whistles, score sheets, coaching comment forms
RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR EVENT OUTREACH
Literature Resources
TV & Video Resources