Parent Corner #28: The Detour
Parent Corner #28

Troy Farley • FCA Sports Leagues Director
July 23, 2026

3 Minute Read
"The path to personal and professional fulfillment is rarely straight."
— Susan David, Emotional Agility

Life rarely goes according to plan. At least mine hasn't.

  • Unexpected detours.
  • Disappointments.
  • Closed doors.
  • Conversations I never wanted to have.
  • Dreams that took longer than I imagined.
  • Days where I simply didn't feel like showing up.

Maybe you've had a few of those too.

As parents, we spend so much time trying to keep our kids from experiencing detours.

  • We want the path to be smooth.
  • The friendships to work out.
  • The team to make itself.
  • The coach to be fair.
  • The season to be perfect.
But that's not life. And maybe...That's not where growth happens.
Feelings Are Wonderful...

They're just terrible leaders. One of the biggest ideas Susan David shares is this:

We don't have to wait until we feel like doing the right thing before we do it.

Think about that. How many of us have waited to:

  • Feel patient.
  • Feel forgiving.
  • Feel motivated.
  • Feel joyful.
  • Feel ready.

But what if growth begins when we choose our values over our feelings?

Not ignoring our emotions. Not pretending they don't exist. Simply refusing to let them drive.

Because feelings make wonderful passengers.

They just shouldn't hold the steering wheel.

Jesus in the Garden

One of the most powerful moments in Scripture happens the night before the cross.

Jesus prays.

"Father, if you are willing, take away this cup of suffering from me. But do what you want, not what I want." (Luke 22:42 ERV)

Notice something?

Jesus didn't pretend. He didn't hide His emotions. He brought them honestly before God.

But He didn't let His feelings determine His obedience.

He chose faithfulness anyway.

That may be one of the greatest examples of emotional maturity in all of Scripture.

Meet Ray

Ray woke up grumpy.

He didn't want to go to practice. He was tired. School had been hard. His team had lost the week before. Nothing inside him wanted to get in the car.

His mom looked over and simply said,

"You don't have to feel excited to keep your commitment."

Ray didn't say much. He went anyway. Practice wasn't amazing. But afterward, on the drive home, he smiled. "I'm glad I went."

Years later, Ray wouldn't remember why he didn't feel like practicing. He'd remember that showing up mattered.

Takeaway

Every family experiences detours.

Every athlete.

Every parent.

Every marriage.

The question isn't whether they'll come.

The question is: Who will we become when they do?

This week...Don't wait until you feel like encouraging.

Encourage anyway.

Don't wait until you feel like forgiving.

Forgive anyway.

Don't wait until you feel like praying.

Pray anyway.

Don't wait until you feel courageous.

Take the next step anyway.

Because the path God uses to shape us...Is rarely straight.

Maybe this week...The action is simply taking the next faithful step.

We are all one thought...One word...One action...Away from a totally different life.

More than a league. It's a mission.

Win The Day,

Troy Farley

FCA Sports Leagues Director

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From this Collection: The Parent Corner
September 12, 2026 • 4 Minute Read
Parent Corner #31: Your Suitcase Was Never Supposed to Have Wheels
Parent Corner #31 — Your Suitcase Was Never Supposed to Have Wheels There is a word I have grown to dislike. Convenience. We love it. Faster. Easier. Delivered. Automated. Anything that removes another obstacle from our day. And then I heard Sylvester Stallone—one of my heroes—talking about how much easier life continues to become. His example made me laugh. Suitcases have wheels now. Something designed to be carried doesn't even have to be carried anymore. His bigger point stuck with me: Force yourself into tough situations. And it got me thinking about our kids. About sports. About FCA Sports. And about growth. Because convenience and growth rarely travel together. We Aren't Trying to Make Everything Easy I'll say something that might sound strange coming from someone who runs youth sports: Convenience is not one of our goals at FCA Sports. Of course, we want to communicate clearly. We want to be organized. We want to serve families well. But our mission isn't to remove every difficult thing from the experience. Not for our athletes. Not for our coaches. Not for our parents. Because growth is rarely convenient. Sometimes practice is at a difficult time. Sometimes the weather isn't perfect. Sometimes your child gets a coach who challenges them. Sometimes they don't play the position they wanted. Sometimes they lose. Sometimes the official misses the call. Sometimes they have to sit on the bench. Sometimes they have to apologize to a teammate. Sometimes they have to keep showing up when they'd rather quit. And our first instinct can be: How do I make this easier? Maybe that's the wrong question. Maybe we should ask: What could God grow through this? Jesus Never Promised Convenient Following Jesus has never been about finding the easiest road. Jesus actually said: "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me." Luke 9:23 Take up your cross. Follow me. There isn't much convenience in those words. Jesus wasn't calling people toward comfort. He was calling them toward something worth giving their lives to. And I think there's something incredibly important there for our kids. We don't need to manufacture hardship. Life will provide plenty of it. But we also don't need to remove every ounce of resistance from their lives. Because resistance can build something. Perseverance. Discipline. Courage. Faith. Character. Growth. Meet Ray Ray hated conditioning. His coach blew the whistle. "One more!" Ray put his hands on his knees. His legs hurt. His lungs burned. And he had already decided the last sprint was supposed to be the last sprint. "Come on, Ray!" Zach yelled. Ray looked toward Coach. For half a second, he hoped Coach would tell him he had done enough. Coach didn't. He just pointed toward the line. Ray stood up. He ran. It wasn't his fastest. It definitely wasn't pretty. But he finished. Walking off the field later, Ray told his dad, "That was hard." Dad smiled. "I know." Ray waited for something else. Nothing. Finally Ray asked, "That's it?" Dad laughed. "Yep." Then he put his hand on Ray's shoulder. "Not everything hard needs to be made easier." Ray thought about that one all the way home. Takeaway Parents, I wonder if sometimes we're putting wheels on things our kids were meant to learn how to carry. We call the coach. We solve the conflict. We make the excuse. We remove the consequence. We carry the bag. And yes—there are absolutely times our kids need us to step in. But there are also times they need us to step back. To encourage. To listen. To remind them they can keep going. And maybe even allow something to remain hard. Because someday the challenges will be bigger than youth sports. There won't always be a parent standing on the sideline who can make it easier. That's why this matters now. Sports give us a training ground for life. A place to practice doing difficult things before the stakes get much higher. So this week, before removing an obstacle from your child's path, maybe ask: Does this need to be fixed? Or... Does this need to be carried? Because your suitcase was never supposed to have wheels. And maybe... Neither was everything in your child's life. More than a league. It's a mission. Win The Day, Troy Farley FCA Sports Leagues Director

Troy Farley

FCA Sports Leagues Director

September 11, 2026 • 5 Minute Read
The Parent Standard
The FCA Sports Parent Standard FCA Sports exists to provide a safe, positive, and Christ-centered environment where athletes can grow physically, mentally, relationally, and spiritually. Parents help set the tone. The way we encourage, communicate, and respond teaches our athletes what matters most. Our priorities are: Safety. Fun. Growth. Our Ultimate Foundation Represent Jesus in every word, every reaction, and every relationship. “Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus.” — Colossians 3:17 Our Five Parent Pillars 1. Encourage Loudly. Never Tear Down. Our sidelines should be filled with joy, energy, and encouragement. Celebrate effort, teamwork, courage, and growth. Never use your voice to embarrass, criticize, or place unnecessary pressure on an athlete. “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up.” — Ephesians 4:29 2. Respect Everyone—Especially Under Pressure. Treat athletes, coaches, referees, FCA staff, opposing teams, and other parents with dignity. Competition never gives us permission to insult, intimidate, argue, or tear someone down. “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.” — Romans 12:10 3. Let Coaches Coach and Referees Officiate. Encourage your athlete without coaching from the sideline. Allow coaches to lead and referees to make calls. Many FCA Sports referees are young people developing communication, confidence, command, and leadership skills. They will not make every call perfectly. Neither will our athletes or coaches. Parents may not yell at, argue with, insult, or approach a referee to dispute a call. “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.” — James 1:19 4. Protect the Athlete Experience. Our games belong to the athletes. Follow sideline boundaries, remain in designated spectator areas, and never allow adult emotions to take away an athlete’s safety, joy, or opportunity to grow. “Not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” — Philippians 2:4 5. Keep the Mission Bigger Than the Score. We want to compete, improve, and pursue excellence—but winning is not the ultimate goal. Every game is an opportunity to help athletes grow and show families something different in the way FCA Sports competes and serves. “Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” — 1 Corinthians 10:31 Game-Day Expectations As an FCA Sports parent or guardian, I will: Bring a positive attitude. Encourage athletes from the sideline. Allow coaches to coach and referees to officiate. Treat everyone with dignity and respect. Use appropriate and positive language. Remain calm when I disagree with a decision. Communicate concerns directly and respectfully. Follow all facility and spectator boundaries. Place athlete safety and growth above the outcome of the game. Respecting Coaches Our coaches are volunteers who give their time to serve athletes and families. Parents should encourage without giving coaching instructions from the sideline. Multiple voices create confusion and unnecessary pressure for athletes. Questions should be discussed with the coach privately and at an appropriate time—not during the game or in front of athletes. Respecting Referees Parents and spectators may not: Yell at or argue with a referee. Make insulting or inappropriate comments. Question a referee’s character or integrity. Approach a referee to dispute a call. Encourage an athlete to disrespect an official. Questions involving rules, safety, or serious concerns should be brought calmly to the site coordinator or FCA staff. Respecting Opposing Families Competition should never become personal. Parents may not taunt, mock, intimidate, or argue with opposing athletes, coaches, or families. We can compete hard without tearing someone else down. Soccer Sideline Expectations Stay Away From the Goals Parents and spectators may not stand or sit beside or behind either goal. All spectators must remain in the designated viewing area along the sideline. This protects the athletes, gives referees a clear view, and prevents distractions behind the goal. Parent Side and Athlete Side For our older soccer divisions serving athletes ages 8–12: One side of the field is reserved for athletes and coaches. The opposite side is reserved for parents and spectators. Parents may not stand or gather on the athlete side. Spectators must stay away from team areas, corner areas, and both goals. This separation helps athletes focus, allows coaches to lead, and creates a safer and more organized environment. Communicating a Concern We want parents to communicate with us. Concerns should be handled calmly, directly, and at the appropriate time. Unless there is an immediate safety concern: Allow the game or practice to finish. Avoid addressing the issue in front of athletes or other families. Speak privately with the coach, site coordinator, or FCA staff. Email the League Director Troy Farley @tfarley@fca.org Focus on facts, safety, and possible solutions. Allow FCA Sports time to gather information and respond. When emotions rise, pause, lower your voice, and remember who is watching. Accountability Behavior that does not meet the FCA Sports Parent Standard may result in: A reminder or warning A conversation with FCA staff Removal from the playing area Suspension from future games Removal from the league in serious or repeated situations Any behavior that threatens the safety of an athlete, coach, referee, staff member, or family will be addressed immediately. The Standard We Carry Encourage loudly. Respect everyone. Trust the leaders. Protect the athletes. Keep the mission bigger than the score. Above it all: Represent Jesus in every word, every reaction, and every relationship. Every game should finish with athletes feeling safe, coaches feeling supported, referees feeling respected, and families seeing something different in the way FCA Sports competes and serves. Meet The Team Troy Farley — FCA Sports League Director — tfarley@fca.org Zach Lewison — Associate Director & Bethel Game Day Coordinator — zlewison@fca.org Amber Lewis — Operations Coordinator — amberlewis@fca.org Hannah Fiocchi — Volunteer Coordinator — hfiocchi@fca.org Preston Jonas — Flag Football Game Day Coordinator — prestonjonas123@gmail.com

Troy Farley

FCA Sports Leagues Director

September 6, 2026 • 4 Minute Read
Parent Corner #30 | Winning Isn't the Point
Winning matters. There. I said it. Keep score - Compete - Practice hard Want the ball when the game is on the line. Learn how to win—and learn how to lose. I love competition. I don't want our athletes walking onto a field or court thinking the outcome doesn't matter. But winning can't be the point. Don't mistake that for weakness. Because when I zoom out and look at a life in sports—from a four-year-old playing their first season all the way to the rare athlete who gets paid to play—the actual games make up only a fraction of the journey. Think about everything else. Practices. Workouts. Film. Meetings. Road trips. Early mornings. Late nights. Conversations with coaches. Conversations with teammates. Sitting on the bench. Extra reps when nobody is watching. Injuries. Disappointment. Failure. Trying again. We spend far more time becoming than we ever spend competing on game day. So if winning the game is the ultimate goal... What are we doing with all that other time? Grow Where You're Planted A while back, I sat on a bucket with a local Tri-Cities coach named Craig Lukens for one of my Inning Intermissions conversations. Craig said something that has stayed with me: "Grow where you're planted." That's it. That's the point. Grow. Sports give our kids this incredible environment where growth gets put under pressure. Mental growth. Physical growth. Spiritual growth. Relational growth. It's why I believe sports can be so powerful. The practices that nobody cheers for matter. The conversation in the car matters. How you respond after getting benched matters. How you treat the official matters. How you encourage a teammate after their mistake matters. How you respond when the scoreboard doesn't go your way matters. Because all of it is growing something inside of you. The question is: What are you growing? Jesus Talked About Growth Too Jesus once described God's Kingdom using something incredibly small. A seed. "God's kingdom is like a mustard seed... It is the smallest of all seeds. But when it grows, it is one of the largest garden plants." Matthew 13:31–32, ERV I love that picture. Because growth doesn't always look impressive while it's happening. Sometimes it's one practice. One conversation. One failure. One decision to get back up. One small seed. But give it time. God can do a lot with something that's willing to grow. Meet Ray Ray's team lost. And he hated losing. On the drive home, he barely said a word. Finally, Dad asked, "What did you learn today?" Ray looked confused. "We lost." "I know," Dad said. "I didn't ask what the scoreboard said." Ray thought for a second. "I probably could've encouraged Zach more after he dropped that pass." Dad nodded. "Anything else?" "I gave up on a play after I thought I was beat." Another nod. Then Ray understood. They hadn't won the game. But there were still places he could grow. Before getting out of the car, Dad looked at him. "Keep wanting to win, Ray." Then he smiled. "Just don't miss who you're becoming while you're trying." The End Game Parents, let's cheer. Let's compete. Let's celebrate wins. Let's let losses hurt. Sports should matter. But let's remember what we're actually preparing these kids for. Because eventually... The jerseys get turned in. The cleats get put away. The final whistle blows. Even for the professionals. And when that happens, the scoreboard doesn't come with them. The person they became does. That's the end game. Did they grow? Did they learn perseverance? Did they become a better teammate? Did they learn to lead? Did they learn how to fail without quitting? Did they learn how to win without making winning their identity? Did they discover more about who God created them to be? Because maybe the greatest victory sports can give our kids isn't something that appears in the standings. Maybe it's becoming the kind of person who can walk into whatever God has next for them and... Grow where they're planted. Winning matters. It just isn't the point. More than a league. It's a mission. Troy Farley FCA Sports Leagues Director

Troy Farley

FCA Sports Leagues Director

July 29, 2026 • 4 Minute Read
Parent Corner #29: The Gift of Struggle
Parent Corner 29: The Gift of Struggle "It is never the duty of a leader to struggle for someone else; a leader must encourage others to struggle and assure them that the struggles are worthwhile." — Andy Andrews, The Traveler's Gift This week I'm writing from FCA Camp at Seattle Pacific University. Around me are hundreds of athletes, coaches, huddle leaders, volunteers, and FCA staff. There's energy everywhere. Sports are happening on every court and field you can think of. Conversations happening late into the evening. This year felt different for me. Not because of the schedule. Not because of my role. Because my daughter Vail came with me. She's not old enough to be an athlete at this camp. She isn't here to compete. She's simply here alongside me as a staff kid—watching, listening, asking questions, and taking it all in. And honestly...I wouldn't have it any other way. One of my greatest hopes as a dad isn't simply that my daughters attend church or camp because it's what we do. It's that they begin building a faith that becomes their own. That they see people who genuinely love Jesus. That they watch older athletes serve younger athletes. That they hear stories of lives being changed. That they experience environments where faith isn't just talked about...it's lived. As I watched the week unfold, one quote kept coming back to me. "It is never the duty of a leader to struggle for someone else; a leader must encourage others to struggle and assure them that the struggles are worthwhile." The Gift of Struggle Every parent wants to protect their child. I know I do. We want to smooth the road. Solve the problem. Call the coach. Fix the friendship. Remove the obstacle. Because watching our kids struggle hurts. But what if our greatest responsibility isn't removing every challenge? What if it's preparing our kids to walk through challenges with courage, wisdom, and faith? There is a difference between rescuing our kids...and raising them. Growth almost always requires resistance. Muscles grow through resistance. Faith grows through testing. Character grows through perseverance. Why would parenting be any different? Maybe one of the greatest gifts we can give our children is the opportunity to discover that—with God beside them—they can do hard things. Jesus Didn't Remove Every Struggle When Jesus sent His disciples into the world, He didn't promise them an easy road. He promised them His presence. Jesus didn't remove every struggle. He prepared them for it. My brothers and sisters, you will have many kinds of trouble. But this gives you a reason to be very happy. You know that when your faith is tested, you learn to be patient in suffering. If you let that patience work in you, the end result will be good. You will be mature and complete. You will be all that God wants you to be. -James 1:2-4 (ERV) Because He knew something we often forget. Strength isn't built by avoiding difficulty. It's built by walking faithfully through it. Meet Ray Ray had never been away from home for an entire week. The first night at camp felt exciting. The second felt lonely. By the third day, he wanted to call home. His huddle leader noticed. "Everything okay?" Ray shrugged. "I kind of miss home." His leader smiled. "That's okay." After a moment, he added, "Sometimes missing home means you're growing somewhere new." Ray thought about those words all week. By the end of camp, he still missed home. But he also realized something. He had made new friends. He had learned new things. He had discovered he could do hard things with God beside him. Takeaway As parents, let's keep giving our kids opportunities to grow. Not because struggle is the goal. Growth is. Let's prepare them before the challenge comes. Walk beside them while they're in it. Remind them that God is with them through it. And when they want to quit...Let's be the steady voice reminding them, "This is hard. But it's worth it." Because one day, our children won't remember every time we rescued them. They'll remember the moments they discovered—with God's help—they were stronger than they thought. Maybe this week...The action is giving your child the gift of a struggle that helps them grow. We are all one thought...One word...One action away from a totally different life. Win The Day, Troy Farley FCA Sports Leagues Director

Troy Farley

FCA Sports Leagues Director

Currently Reading
July 23, 2026 • 3 Minute Read
Parent Corner #28: The Detour
"The path to personal and professional fulfillment is rarely straight." — Susan David, Emotional Agility Life rarely goes according to plan. At least mine hasn't. Unexpected detours. Disappointments. Closed doors. Conversations I never wanted to have. Dreams that took longer than I imagined. Days where I simply didn't feel like showing up. Maybe you've had a few of those too. As parents, we spend so much time trying to keep our kids from experiencing detours. We want the path to be smooth. The friendships to work out. The team to make itself. The coach to be fair. The season to be perfect. But that's not life. And maybe...That's not where growth happens. Feelings Are Wonderful... They're just terrible leaders. One of the biggest ideas Susan David shares is this: We don't have to wait until we feel like doing the right thing before we do it. Think about that. How many of us have waited to: Feel patient. Feel forgiving. Feel motivated. Feel joyful. Feel ready. But what if growth begins when we choose our values over our feelings? Not ignoring our emotions. Not pretending they don't exist. Simply refusing to let them drive. Because feelings make wonderful passengers. They just shouldn't hold the steering wheel. Jesus in the Garden One of the most powerful moments in Scripture happens the night before the cross. Jesus prays. "Father, if you are willing, take away this cup of suffering from me. But do what you want, not what I want." (Luke 22:42 ERV) Notice something? Jesus didn't pretend. He didn't hide His emotions. He brought them honestly before God. But He didn't let His feelings determine His obedience. He chose faithfulness anyway. That may be one of the greatest examples of emotional maturity in all of Scripture. Meet Ray Ray woke up grumpy. He didn't want to go to practice. He was tired. School had been hard. His team had lost the week before. Nothing inside him wanted to get in the car. His mom looked over and simply said, "You don't have to feel excited to keep your commitment." Ray didn't say much. He went anyway. Practice wasn't amazing. But afterward, on the drive home, he smiled. "I'm glad I went." Years later, Ray wouldn't remember why he didn't feel like practicing. He'd remember that showing up mattered. Takeaway Every family experiences detours. Every athlete. Every parent. Every marriage. The question isn't whether they'll come. The question is: Who will we become when they do? This week...Don't wait until you feel like encouraging. Encourage anyway. Don't wait until you feel like forgiving. Forgive anyway. Don't wait until you feel like praying. Pray anyway. Don't wait until you feel courageous. Take the next step anyway. Because the path God uses to shape us...Is rarely straight. Maybe this week...The action is simply taking the next faithful step. We are all one thought...One word...One action...Away from a totally different life. More than a league. It's a mission. Win The Day, Troy Farley FCA Sports Leagues Director

Troy Farley

FCA Sports Leagues Director

July 16, 2026 • 3 Minute Read
Parent Corner #27 – What's the Point?
"If I'm not willing to live to what I wrote, then what's the point?" — I Play Rocky A few days ago I heard a quote from the upcoming movie I Play Rocky that hasn't left me. "If I'm not willing to live to what I wrote, then what's the point?" The more I thought about it, the more it felt less like a quote...and more like a mirror. Because if I'm honest, I've been guilty of words. Fancy words. Encouraging words. Words I've written. Words I've spoken from a stage. Words I've shared in these Parent Corners. But I've also spoken impatient words. Broken words to my wife. Frustrated words to my daughters. Words I wish I could take back. As I sat with that quote, I realized something. It's possible to know the right words...without living them. The Greatest Lesson As parents, we spend so much time teaching. Be kind. Tell the truth. Work hard. Respect your coach. Trust God. All important lessons. But what if the greatest lesson our children will ever learn...isn't what we say? What if it's what they watch us live? Because whether we realize it or not... Our kids are reading us every single day. Our patience. Our forgiveness. Our marriages. Our reactions. Our integrity. Long before they remember our words...They'll remember our example. Jesus understood this. He didn't simply tell people how to live. He lived among them. He served. He forgave. He loved. Then He said, "I did this as an example for you. So you should serve each other just as I served you." (John 13:15 ERV) Jesus didn't just preach the message. He became the message. The Dream That quote challenged me in another way too. God has written dreams on every one of our hearts. Some of us are nine. Some of us are forty-one. Some of us are eighty. Age doesn't erase purpose. Maybe God has been asking you to take a step. To forgive. To apologize. To serve. To start. To trust. To finally become the person He's been shaping you to be. If we're not willing to live what God has written on our hearts...What's the point? Meet Ray Ray loved talking about being a great teammate. He knew all the right things to say. Encourage others. Work hard. Stay positive. Then one day his coach pulled him aside after practice. "Ray," he smiled, "You already know what a great teammate looks like." Ray nodded. His coach continued, "Now go become one." That conversation stayed with Ray. Not because he learned something new. But because he realized the difference between knowing...and becoming. Takeaway Maybe this week isn't about learning something new. Maybe it's about living something you already know. Showing more patience. Offering forgiveness. Choosing encouragement. Taking one courageous step toward the life God has been inviting you into. Because our kids won't remember every speech we gave. But they'll remember the life we lived. We are all one thought...One word...One action... Away from a totally different life. Maybe this week...The action is simply living what we've already said we believe. More than a league. It's a mission. Win The Day, Troy Farley FCA Sports Leagues Director

Troy Farley

FCA Sports Leagues Director

July 6, 2026 • 4 Minute Read
Parent Corner #26: The Moments That Matter Most
"The chance to re-live the moments that meant most." — Matt Haig, The Midnight Train A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to spend the week at kids camp with Faith Tri-Cities and NW Kids. On the surface, it looked like I was simply helping at camp. But something much deeper was happening. This wasn't just any camp. It was the same camp where I spent my summers beginning around eleven years old. The same camp. The same lake. The same chapel. The same places where God quietly began shaping the direction of my life. Places where I learned to trust Him. Places where I began hearing His voice. Places that helped shape who I am and what I still do today. God began shaping my life as an eleven-year-old. And this summer, I had the privilege of watching my own daughter experience that same place. Almost the exact same age I was. As I watched her from a distance (because let's be honest... having Dad at camp is both cool and not cool), I realized something. I wasn't just watching my daughter at camp. I was getting the chance to relive the moments that have meant the most. Standing outside the same chapel where God first began stirring my heart. Jumping off the high dive with Vail—something I had done decades earlier myself. Watching kids worship. Hearing laughter echo across the camp. I couldn't help but look back over my own life. I saw God's fingerprints everywhere. Prayers I didn't even know He was answering. Doors He opened. Miracles I couldn't have planned. The calling He slowly revealed over years—not days. And for a moment, it all came rushing back. The Long Game As parents, we spend so much time thinking about the next game. The next season. The next team. The next opportunity. But what if God is playing a much longer game? What if He's far more interested in shaping hearts than schedules? One of my deepest prayers isn't that my daughters become great athletes. Or successful adults. Or even accomplish big things. My greatest prayer is much simpler: That they would learn to recognize the voice of God. Because when you know His voice...Everything changes. Listening One of my favorite moments in Scripture comes from a young boy named Samuel. God called his name during the night. At first, Samuel didn't realize who was speaking. Finally, Eli told him: "If God speaks to you again, say, 'Speak, Lord. Your servant is listening.'" (1 Samuel 3:9, ERV) That simple prayer has shaped generations. Maybe it's one we need to pray more often too. Speak, Lord. I'm listening. Meet Ray Camp was always Ray's favorite week of the summer. One night after chapel, he sat on a bench overlooking the lake. Everyone else had already headed back to their cabins. His counselor walked over and sat beside him. "You okay?" Ray nodded. "I think so." After a long pause he finally said, "I think God might be trying to tell me something." His counselor smiled. "What do you think He's saying?" Ray shrugged. "I don't know yet." His counselor nodded. "That's okay." "Keep listening." Years later, Ray wouldn't remember every game he played. He wouldn't remember every trophy. But he'd remember that quiet bench. Because sometimes the moments that change our lives don't happen in front of a crowd. They happen when we're finally quiet enough to listen. Takeaway As parents, we all chase moments. First steps. First games. First home runs. First championships. They're all wonderful. But may we never miss the moment that matters most. The moment our children begin to recognize the voice of God. Because I truly believe: We are just one thought, one word, or one action away from a totally different life. And sometimes...That one word: Is His. More than a league. It's a mission. Win The Day, Troy Farley FCA Sports Leagues Director

Troy Farley

FCA Sports Leagues Director

June 21, 2026 • 5 Minute Read
Parent Corner #25: Presence over Perfection
Parent Corner #25 – My Hero Today is Father's Day. And when I think about Father's Day, I think about my Dad. I think about a father who played catch with me. A father who showed up to every game he possibly could. A father who taught me what hard work looked like. A father who introduced me to Jesus. A father who extended grace in seasons of my life when I didn't deserve it. And now, years later, I watch him do the same thing for my daughters. He's still showing up. Still encouraging. Still loving. Still teaching. Still present. As I've gotten older, I've realized something. Many of the most important things my dad taught me weren't taught through words. They were taught through presence. By simply being there. The Gift of Presence One of my favorite quotes about fatherhood comes from author Clarence Budington Kelland: "My father didn't tell me how to live. He lived, and let me watch him do it." The older I get, the more I understand that. Because kids are always watching. They're watching how we handle adversity. They're watching how we treat people. They're watching how we respond when things don't go our way. They're watching what matters most to us. And whether we realize it or not, we're painting a picture of life for them every day. Not through perfection. Through presence. A Better Picture of God One of the greatest gifts my dad ever gave me was introducing me to Jesus. Not because he had all the answers. Not because he was perfect. But because he pointed me to the One who is. Every good father reflects a piece of God's heart. His love. His patience. His grace. His faithfulness. And while earthly fathers will always fall short, God never does. One of the things I've come to appreciate most about my dad is that he showed up. At games. In hard seasons. In moments when I needed encouragement. In moments when I needed grace. And as I look back, it reminds me of Jesus. In John 21, Peter had failed Jesus. Three times he denied even knowing Him. Peter thought the story was over. So he went back to fishing. But Jesus wasn't finished with him. Jesus showed up on the shore. He didn't show up to shame Peter. He didn't show up to remind Peter of his mistakes. He showed up to make breakfast. He showed up to restore him. He showed up to remind Peter that failure wasn't the end of his story. Looking back, that's one of the greatest gifts my dad has given me: Not perfection. Presence. The kind of presence that keeps showing up even when life gets messy. For some of us, Father's Day is a celebration. For others, it's complicated. Maybe your father wasn't present. Maybe the relationship is strained. Maybe there's hurt. The good news is that our story doesn't end there. Through Jesus, we discover a God who never stops pursuing us, never stops loving us, and never gives up on us. Meet Ray Father's Day always felt a little different for Ray. His parents were divorced. Some weekends looked one way. Some weekends looked another. Sometimes he found himself comparing his family to everyone else's. One afternoon after a game, Ray sat quietly in the car. His dad noticed. "What's up, buddy?" Ray shrugged. "I wish things were different." His dad sat for a moment before answering. "I do too sometimes." Then he smiled. "But different doesn't mean bad." Ray looked over. His dad continued. "One thing I want you to always know is this: no matter where you are, whose house you're at, or what life looks like, I'm your dad and I love you." Years later, Ray would remember that conversation. Not because it fixed everything. But because it reminded him of something important. Love shows up. Love stays. Love keeps coming back. Takeaway This Father's Day, take a moment to thank the people who showed up. The dads. The grandpas. The coaches. The mentors. The men who invested in us. Not because they were perfect. But because they were present. And if you're a father reading this, remember: Your kids won't remember every score. They won't remember every lesson. They won't remember every speech. But they will remember your presence. Because sometimes the greatest gift a father gives isn't perfection. It's showing up. Dad, thank you for showing up. I love you. Happy Father's Day. A Final Thought Over a year ago, I had the opportunity to sit down with my dad on my podcast for an episode of Inning Intermissions. We talked about life, faith, family, sports, and many of the lessons that helped shape me into the person I am today. If you'd like to learn more about the man behind this story, I invite you to listen to that conversation and celebrate a life that continues to impact not only me, but now my daughters as well. Watch or listen to the episodes below Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 More than a league. It's a mission. Win The Day, Troy Farley FCA Sports Leagues Director

Troy Farley

FCA Sports Leagues Director

June 14, 2026 • 3 Minute Read
Parent Corner #24: The Thermostat
Championship Sunday This weekend I spent time watching my daughter's softball team compete in a tournament. Saturday felt different than Sunday. Saturday was relaxed. Parents laughed. Coaches coached. Umpires made calls. Kids played. Nobody seemed overly concerned with the outcome. Then Sunday arrived. Single elimination. Lose and go home. The thermostat changed. Voices got louder. Coaches became more intense. Parents became more invested. Every call felt bigger. Every mistake felt heavier. And if I'm being honest, I felt it too. The pressure was real. Which got me thinking. Why do I have so much grace for other people's young athletes but not always for my own? Why do I allow the title of the game to change the way I view the game? Fred Rogers once said: "Who you are inside is what helps you make and do everything in life." Championship Sunday reminded me how easy it is to focus on outcomes while forgetting what may be happening inside our kids. After all, it was still softball. The bases didn't move. The rules didn't change. The girls were still kids. But somehow the stakes felt different. And when the stakes felt different, my perspective started to change. The Real Opponent Maybe the biggest challenge in youth sports isn't the team in the other dugout. Maybe it's what pressure does to us. Pressure has a way of shrinking our perspective. Instead of seeing growth, we see mistakes. Instead of seeing effort, we see results. Instead of seeing kids, we see outcomes. And when that happens, we begin evaluating moments differently than God does. What if God isn't nearly as concerned about the scoreboard as we are? What if He's paying attention to something deeper? Character. Courage. Perseverance. Joy. Teamwork. The things that last long after the tournament bracket is forgotten. Jesus and the Pressure One of the things I love about Jesus is that pressure never seemed to change Him. Crowds got bigger. Opposition got louder. The stakes got higher. Yet Jesus continued to see people. He saw individuals where others saw outcomes. He saw hearts where others saw performance. He extended grace when others expected perfection. As parents, that's the challenge in front of us. Can we continue to see our kids the way God sees them, even when the pressure rises? Meet Ray Ray's team found themselves in a championship game. The gym felt different. Everyone knew what was on the line. Late in the game, Ray made a mistake that led to the other team scoring. Immediately his shoulders dropped. The drive home felt long. Finally, Ray looked over and said, "I cost us the game." His dad paused before responding. Then he asked a simple question. "Is that what you'd tell one of your teammates if they made the same mistake?" Ray thought for a moment. "No." "What would you tell them?" "I'd tell them it's just one play." His dad smiled. "Then maybe that's what you need to tell yourself." Takeaway The title of the game shouldn't change how we view the game. Whether it's pool play or a championship. Whether it's a practice or a playoff. Whether they win or lose. They're still kids. They're still learning. They're still growing. This week, when the pressure rises, ask yourself: Am I seeing my child through the lens of performance? Or through the lens of grace? Because one day they'll forget most of the scores. But they'll remember how we responded when the thermostat changed. More than a league. It's a mission. Win The Day, Troy Farley FCA Sports Leagues Director

Troy Farley

FCA Sports Leagues Director

May 31, 2026 • 3 Minute Read
Parent Corner #23
The Goal is to Go Recently, I received a message from one of our coaches—a coach I have a tremendous amount of respect for. He shared that his family would be moving on to another club this fall. He thanked us for the years together and explained that his boys were ready for a new challenge. As I read his message, I found myself smiling. Not because they were leaving. But because this is exactly what we hope happens. That might sound strange. Most leagues, teams, and organizations measure success by how long they can keep people around. But our goal has never been to keep you forever. Our goal is to prepare you to go. More Than a League From the beginning, FCA Sports has been built around three simple ideas: Engage. Equip. Empower. We want to engage athletes, coaches, and families where they are. We want to equip them with tools, habits, and truth that help them grow. And then we want to empower them to go live it out. Because eventually every athlete moves on. Every parent moves on. Every coach moves on. The question isn't whether we'll move on. The question is: What will we take with us when we do? Jesus Did the Same Thing When you look at the life of Jesus, His ministry wasn't built around keeping people close forever. It was built around preparing them to go. He spent time with His disciples. He taught them. He challenged them. He corrected them. He encouraged them. And then He sent them. The goal was never simply information. The goal was transformation. And transformation always leads to movement. Meet Ray Ray had spent several years playing in the same environment. The coaches knew him. His teammates knew him. Everything felt familiar. Then one day a new opportunity came along. Ray wasn't sure what to do. Part of him wanted to stay where he was comfortable. His dad listened and finally asked a simple question: "Do you think you're ready?" Ray thought for a moment. "I think so." His dad smiled. "Then maybe it's time." A few months later, Ray found himself in a new environment with new teammates, new coaches, and new challenges. Some things were harder. Some things were better. But what surprised him most was realizing how much he had already learned. The lessons came with him. The habits came with him. The character came with him. And that's what mattered most. Takeaway Whether your child stays with FCA Sports for one season or ten, our hope remains the same. We want to help develop athletes. But even more than that, we want to help develop people. People who know how to compete. People who know how to encourage teammates. People who know how to handle success and failure. People who know how to live out their faith wherever life takes them. Because the goal isn't simply to stay. The goal is to go. To take what you've learned and live it out in your team, your school, your workplace, your church, and your community. That's how movements grow. More than a league. It's a mission. Win The Day, Troy Farley FCA Sports Leagues Director

Troy Farley

FCA Sports Leagues Director

May 23, 2026 • 3 Minute Read
Parent Corner #22
The Secret Isn’t a Secret A few weeks ago on my Inning Intermissions Podcast, I was interviewing a friend when he said something that stuck with me: “There’s no secret recipe. It’s just consistency.” That line hasn’t left my head. Because the more I think about it, the more I believe it’s true for almost everything in life. The secret isn’t a secret. So why do we struggle with this so much? As parents of young athletes, we’re constantly looking for the formula. The right trainer. The right team. The right schedule. The right camp. The right opportunity. But what if there isn’t a secret formula? What if growth is usually found in consistency? Showing up. Practicing. Encouraging. Learning. Failing. Trying again. Let the consistency of whatever they are chasing play itself out. And honestly, this doesn’t just apply to our kids. It applies to us too. If I could pass along one “secret” that really isn’t a secret for all of us to consistently dive into, it would be this: The Bible. The greatest story ever told. A story that is still unfolding. A story we are invited into. From creation in Genesis to eternity in Revelation, the Bible points us to one central figure: Jesus. The apostle Paul wrote these words while sitting in prison, reminding believers that the true secret to life was never success, status, or power. It was always Jesus. Colossians 1:27 says: “God decided to let his people know this rich and glorious secret, which is for all people. The secret is this: Christ is in you. He is our hope for glory.” We are all being guided by something. The question is: what? Culture? Social media? Success? Comparison? Fear? Or the Word of God? The secret to life really isn’t a secret. It’s a relationship with Jesus. And God’s Word leads us to Him page after page. Honestly, if I had my way, every athlete who came through FCA Sports would leave with a Bible in their hands. (I’m working on it. 🙏) FCA has an Athlete Bible. An FCA Coaches Bible. And now a brand-new Kids Bible. Because we don’t just want to develop athletes. We want to help guide people. Meet Ray After practice one night, Ray stayed behind helping put basketballs away. As the gym emptied out, his coach walked over and handed him something. It was a Bible. Ray looked surprised. His coach smiled and said, “You spend a lot of time working on your game. Don’t forget to work on your heart too.” That night Ray flipped through the pages before bed. He didn’t understand everything yet. But one verse caught his attention: “The secret is this: Christ is in you. He is our hope for glory.” The next morning, Ray brought the Bible with him in the car. Not because he had everything figured out. But because he wanted direction. Takeaway The secret isn’t a secret. Consistency matters. Consistency in practice. Consistency in encouragement. Consistency in faith. This week, make space for God’s Word in your home. Read one verse together. Ask one good question. Start one small habit. Sometimes the biggest transformation begins with the smallest consistent step. More than a league. It’s a mission. Win The Day, Troy Farley FCA Sports Leagues Director

Troy Farley

FCA Sports Leagues Director

February 18, 2026 • 3 Minute Read
Parent Corner #21
The Picture in Their Head A couple weeks ago I had the opportunity to speak at Hungry Gen Youth. During the message I shared a simple idea that has stuck with me since. Every person carries a picture in their head of who they think they are. That picture forms over time. It can come from a lot of places. Sports. Parents. Coaches. Friends. Social media. Success. Failure. Labels. Over time, the picture in our head becomes the way we see ourselves. For young athletes, that picture can change quickly. One bad game. One injury. One coach’s decision. One comparison. Suddenly the picture in their head starts saying things like: “I’m not good enough.” “I always mess things up.” “I’ll never be that good.” As parents, this is where our voice matters more than we realize. Because sometimes the picture our kids are carrying simply isn’t the right one. Truth – The Story of Peter In John 21 we find Peter carrying a wrong picture of himself. Just days earlier, Peter had denied Jesus three times the night Jesus was arrested. Even though Jesus had risen from the dead, Peter was still carrying the weight of that moment. Imagine the picture in Peter’s head: “I failed Him.” “I blew it.” “I’m not the leader anymore.” So Peter does what a lot of people do when they feel like they’ve failed. He goes back to what he used to do. John 21:3 says Peter told the others, “I am going fishing.” But Jesus wasn’t finished with Peter. When Jesus meets the disciples on the shore that morning, He doesn’t shame Peter. He doesn’t lecture him. He cooks breakfast. Then Jesus asks Peter three times, “Do you love me?” Why three times? Because Peter denied Jesus three times. Three denials. Three restorations. Jesus wasn’t reminding Peter of his failure. He was restoring his identity. Peter showed up that morning believing, “I’m the guy who failed.” Jesus tells him something different: “Follow me.” Not “try harder.” Not “earn your way back.” Just follow me. Jesus gives Peter a new picture of who he is. Meet Ray Ray had a tough game. Nothing seemed to go right. Missed shots. Turnovers. A couple mistakes that stuck in his head long after the game ended. On the drive home Ray sat quietly and finally said, “I think I’m just not very good.” His dad glanced over and said, “Who told you that?” Ray shrugged. “It just feels like it.” His dad paused for a moment and then said, “One game doesn’t get to decide who you are.” Later that night Ray thought about that. The mistakes were still real. But they didn’t get to define him. The picture in his head started to shift. Takeaway Our kids are forming pictures of who they think they are every day. Our job isn’t just to coach their performance. It’s to help shape their identity. Remind them: You are loved. You are chosen. You are capable. You belong. And most importantly, their identity isn’t built on a scoreboard or a stat line. It’s built on who God says they are. Sometimes the greatest thing we can do as parents is help our kids exchange the wrong picture in their head for the right one. Win The Day, Troy Farley FCA Sports Leagues Director

Troy Farley

FCA Sports Leagues Director