Catholic school coaches urged to teach spiritual lessons in sports

Published: 2007-01-23

METUCHEN, N.J. (CNS) -- Coaches in the Metuchen Diocese got some extra pointers during a presentation last fall on coaching skills by Edward T. Hastings, a former captain of the Villanova University basketball team, who urged them to help youths find Christ through athletics. "Coaches play such a huge role," said Hastings during a workshop at St. James School in Basking Ridge. "The time you spend with these kids is so special. How you treat them -- they don't forget. They'll remember how you treated them 30 to 35 years later," he continued. "They are learning life lessons from you. You are in a great venue to teach life lessons and maybe about God." Hastings is an assistant professor of religious studies at Neumann College in Aston, Pa. He has a doctorate in spirituality from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh. Hastings stressed that many young people may not go to church, but they are involved in sports. In the Metuchen Diocese alone, there are about 4,000 children playing on approximately 250 diocesan basketball teams.

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