Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart,
as working for the Lord, not men…
The Covenant Way
The Covenant Way seeks to glorify God and depend on Him for all things. We strive to do this in our words, our actions, our thoughts, and our motives, particularly as we participate on Covenant’s athletic teams.
Depending on God and His power working in us makes us winners in the truest sense, regardless of the scoreboard. The Covenant Way means seeking to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Therefore, we take our theme from Colossians 3:23: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not men.”
Petition
Does glorifying God mean that we don’t want to win? No! We practice hard in order to beat our opponents. During games, we do everything we can, within the bounds of fair competition, to achieve victory. Yet, it is competition coupled with the right attitude that represents The Covenant Way.
Attitude and Hard Work
The Covenant Way is all about attitude. A good attitude is the overriding feature of success in Christian athletics. First, our teams should never be out-hustled! Hustle is a never-give-up, never-say-die approach to sports. Secondly, our players should have the attitude of being coachable, willing to listen, and eager to improve. The Covenant Way finds no substitute for hard work. There is a saying, “The only place you will find success before work is in the dictionary.” The three D’s apply here: desire, dedication, and determination. Mental and physical toughness come from hours and hours of hard work. Our teams should work harder than any team around.
Unity
Unity within our teams is an essential ingredient for success, according to The Covenant Way. Although you may not be close friends with everyone on your team off the field, teammates must be “best friends” on the field or court. Encouragement is vital to team strength, while criticism stemming from petty jealousy will always weaken the team effort. Every member of the team is important. A team will only be as strong as its weakest link. Include teammates, don’t exclude them. Be happy when someone else on the team is honored, knowing that their praise brings honor to all!
Academics
The Covenant Way stresses the importance of schoolwork in each student athlete’s life. In fact, doing well in school is what allows you to participate on an athletic team. You will not play on a team at Covenant if you do not stay on top of your academic responsibilities. Keeping priorities straight is The Covenant Way.
Sportsmanship
The Covenant Way is characterized by sportsmanship. Good sportsmanship glorifies God and is a positive reflection on our school and team. We always shake hands with opponents after each game, gracious in victory or defeat. We congratulate others on their efforts and acknowledge the other team’s strengths. We avoid excuses and do not blame referees nor criticize playing conditions.
Conclusion
The Covenant Way demands the very best from students, parents, teachers, and coaches because God demands the very best. The Covenant Way recognizes that because God demands our very best, all of us will routinely fail to live up to His standards. We will fall short in what we have done and by what we have left undone in all the areas of The Covenant Way. Thankfully, we seek to glorify God, working as for the Lord in all we do. God is merciful and forgiving! When we fail, we seek God’s forgiveness, given to us in Jesus Christ. We glorify Him and depend on His power working in us to make The Covenant Way our way in athletics and in life.
Students who participate in Covenant athletic programs are expected to sign a pledge to support “The Covenant School” athletic philosophy.