“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” ~Ecclesiastes 3:1

The literal seasons of weather come at their appointed times and of which God promises in Genesis 8:22 that “while the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.”

Shakespeare considers the seasons of life as he envisions that “all the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances; And one man in his time plays many parts, His acts being seven ages. At first the infant, Mewling and puking in the nurse’s arms” only to end in “second childishness and mere oblivion; Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.” 

Over and over in Scripture, God calls His people to seasons of rest weekly, throughout the year, and every seven years.

Seasonless-ness is one of the most disturbing, destructive trends in youth sports today with athletes bouncing from sport to sport with no time off in between while playing their primary sport year-round in the meantime. 

Time and the seasons that accompany it are mysterious and also painfully tangible. In our modern climate-controlled, electricity-driven lives, weather seasons are apparently eradicated. But there are other seasons we cannot escape, so we must learn to embrace them.

Injury is probably the most common unexpected season for youth athletes.  Hopefully, you and your child’s coach are able to work together to set up a good injury prevention plan, but some injuries are truly unexpected and unavoidable even under the best of circumstances. For moms and dads, it is hard enough to make movement a part of your routine, but being thrown into a season of injury, illness, or busyness (like a new baby, a job change, or a move) can almost extinguish any motivation that you might have been able to muster to exercise. I’m fond of telling my athletes that consistency is important. (It is.) However, at times I have to balance this message with a reminder that seasons are appropriate and sometimes unavoidable.

Good news for parents: You can trust whatever God is working in and through you during your down season, but how should you respond to a season of disappointment, injury or illness, busyness, or anything unexpected that seemingly impedes your progress?

• It’s appropriate to look forward to something better because that is called hope.  Ultimately, everything in this life is temporary.  It will pass.
• As you recover or live through your down season, don’t compare your current situation to your best times and accomplishments.  Instead, set performance goals and process goals that are appropriate for the season.
• Find any and every workaround available.
• Do not try to push through a season or rush past it, but instead, maybe even find a way to enjoy it.  Cling to everything positive.  Keep a thankfulness journal.  As my PE students know, a thankful heart is a healthy body!  This is supported by scripture and scientific research. Perhaps a time of recovery allows for more time developing other skills, investing in family, taking hikes or walks to the park, or catching up on your book list.

As always, if you want to chat more about seasons or anything else on your mind, contact me!  If you want to read a more personal story about myself being thrown into an unexpected season on December 9, 2024, and how I hope to work through it and enjoy it, see the rest of the story at Seasons Part 2 or subscribe to have these encouraging anecdotes, summaries of scientific studies, and all things “youth sports” delivered right to your e-mail as often as my current season allows 😊

~Coach Melissa

“And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” ~Romans 5:3-5