The Christians in Sport Podcast

Starting university is a really significant transition in life. It can be daunting, unpredictable and challenging as you move from home and look to join a new sports club. Here's six top tips to help you settle in well. 0:00 Intro 0:22 Today's question 0:48 Answer 1:14 Join a church 2:10 Follow Jesus from day one 2:50 Be committed to your sports club 3:32 Be ready for initiations and socials 4:35 Make disciples 5:10 Pray

As the 2023 Rugby World Cup kicks off we revisit a conversation with Garin Jenkins recorded in 2016. Garin is a former Welsh rugby union player capped 58 times by his country. He played in three World Cups and multiple Five and Six Nations tournaments. In conversation with Graham Daniels, he tells us about his battle with misdirected passion and aggression on the rugby field and how his growing faith remained steady as he endured massive ups and downs both on the pitch and off it. (00:00) Introduction (01:54) How Garin found out he'd won his first international cap (03:30) Making it to the international stage but feeling lost (04:50) Misdirected passion on the field and the battle for discipline (07:36) Garin's challenging upbringing and first steps of faith in God (09:24) A family disaster at a huge match against Cardiff (13:07) What it's like to realise you're playing at the top-level of sport (16:27) Reflections from Graham Daniels on the interview.

As a Christian sportsperson, what should you prioritise as you leave university behind and join the world of work? 0:00 Intro 0:22 Today's question 0:38 A significant transition 1:02 Find a church 1:58 Find a club 2:49 Be bold 3:09 Team Up 3:34 Be patient 3:56 Pray

Bertie Kennedy is a top-level cricket analyst who has worked with numerous clubs and franchises across professional cricket, including conducting the inaugural Hundred draft for the Northern Superchargers. He consults for numerous sporting teams to help them make better data-driven decisions alongside lecturing on the MSc in Performance Analysis at the University of Gloucestershire. We caught up with Bertie at his home in the southwest of England to talk about how his faith shapes the way he works in top-level sport. (0:58) How do your sport and faith connect (5:56) Getting in to the world of performance analysis (9:56) What does performance analysis look like now? (11:44) How do your faith and work go together? (14:11) Why is integrity important as a Christian in the workplace? (18:24) The influence of data in coaching elite players (23:26) What does the relationship between analyst and coach look like? (26:40) What soft skills do you need to be an analyst? (28:13) Treating elite players with empathy when using data (31:57) Common misconceptions about performance analysis (34:30) Outro

Can a Christian really bring glory to God in combat sports like boxing or martial arts? In this episode of AskCIS we look at what the Bible has to say about the use of violence in sport, and ask if it's possible to glorify God if violence is part of your sport. 0:00 Intro 0:22 Today's question 1:06 What is God's glory? 2:21 Is violence inherently wrong in sport? 4:31 What do combat sports promote? 5:31 Creativity 6:52 Character 7:26 Conscience

Fanie Van De Merwe is a multiple Paralympic Champion in track sprinting, with three Gold medals to his name across a career that saw him make three Paralympic Games. Fanie grew up with cerebral palsy but competed alongside able-bodied athletes until a coach suggested he focus on disability sport when he was 17. Fanie and his brother Chris now run a Christian non-profit called Inspired 2 Become, focusing on alternative action sports and athletes with disabilities and Fanie coaches visually and intellectually impaired children. Danno caught up with Fanie at his home in South Africa to talk about his journey to faith alongside his long career at the top of Paralympic sprinting. (01:07) How do your sport and faith connect? (02:57) Competing with able-bodied children at school and discovering disability sport (05:13) Athens 2004 and the start of Paralympic ambitions (09:11) How did faith play out as you trained to win at Beijing 2008 (12:33) How did you come to faith? (16:11) Seeing God as a father (19:46) Winning Gold at Beijing 2008 (23:48) Defending Gold at London 2012 but facing disappointment in the 200m (26:18) How identity in Christ shaped Fanie's perception of pressure & disappointment (29:47) Rio 2016 and retirement (34:34) Inspired to Become and supporting disabled young people

Issues around what women should wear for sport have been hotly debated in recent times, with plenty of opinions voiced about how much athletes should or shouldn't wear. Some sports even regulate the type of kit female athletes can wear whilst leaving male athletes to choose for themselves. In this episode of AskCIS Rosie Woodbridge takes us through biblical principles on clothing and how we can use these to think about how we dress to train and compete. 0:00 Intro 0:22 Today's question 0:30 Response 0:57 The context 3:42 Where is this an issue for you? 4:27 What does the Bible say? 7:22 What does this look like in sport? 9:20 Summary

Eating disorders are disproportionately common in sport, and can be hugely damaging to athletes' physical and mental health. Jonny caught up with Rosie to talk about her experience of battling her eating disorder alongside playing Ultimate Frisbee for Great Britain, and how her faith shaped this struggle. Read more about rosie's eating disorder  👉https://christiansinsport.org.uk/eatingdisorder 0:45 How do your sport and faith connect? 1:17 Rosie's journey to the top of her sport 4:04 What difference did it make to be a Christian in your sport? 5:46 Developing an eating disorder 9:11 The difference between healthy and unhealthy eating in sport 11:24 When Rosie realised she had an eating disorder 12:31 Dealing with the spiritual aspect of an eating disorder 16:57 Why is it that eating disorders are so prevalent in sport? 18:10 How can you help someone who might have an eating disorder? 20:41 Encouragements and challenges from the life of Jesus

How can you respond if someone says you shouldn't let your child compete on a Sunday? It's a big question that could come easily from another parent, a church leader, or a Christan friend.  In this episode of AskCIS we dig into this question by opening up the Bible to see how God's word might shape a response. Read more about Sunday sport: https://christiansinsport.org.uk/academy/topic/church/ (0:00) Intro (0:23) Today's question (1:19) Decisions need to be made (2:25) Be fully convinced (4:24) Be open in your approach (5:30) Principles for responding

For many the season is over, and Wednesdays are no longer taken up with BUCS fixtures. Then once exams are over everything can become a bit of a blur. But what about reaching the world of sport for Christ? How does that fit into the last month of university life? (0:00) Intro (0:22) Today's question (0:48) Answer (1:10) Circumstances change but the need for Jesus doesn't (2:21) There's nothing to lose (3:46) Four things you can do (4:00) Pray (4:08) Continue to share life (4:37) Boldy proclaim before you go (5:03) Revision break or post-exam event