In this time, many athletes may feel discouraged and isolated, especially those who have had their seasons cut short. The coaches of the athletic teams at Union University are trying to bring hope in the midst of uncertainty. For the past couple of weeks, they have been making videos of encouragement to share on social media.
So far, there are five videos uploaded to the Union Athletics’ social media pages. Mark Campbell, women’s basketball head coach; Ryan Chandler, women’s and men’s golf head coach; Sara Hammond, women’s basketball assistant coach; and Darrin McClure, volleyball head coach, have each done individual videos. Mackenzie Sher, softball head coach, and Matt Brunet, softball assistant coach, decided to make a video together to show the different environments that each one is living in during this time.
When asked about the reasons behind making these videos, Sher shared Proverbs 3:27, which says, “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act.”
Sher believes that sharing encouragement is something that the coaches should be doing during this difficult time because they have the “power to act.” She hopes that the athletes are touched through the words that have been given.
“I just hope that they can hear something that might be different coming from a different coach,” Sher said. “I hope that they know that they’re loved and missed a lot.”
Peyton Mathis, senior sport management major and softball player, has enjoyed being able to hear the perspectives of the different coaches. She appreciates what they are doing to reach out in this time.
“It’s good to know that they feel for us, and they want to help us the best they can in the situation that we’re in,” Mathis said.
Sher also hopes that the videos will reach more people than just athletes.
“Hopefully, athletes might be watching it with their family, or students at Union might just be following Union Athletics and see that we’re not just about sports,” Sher said. “Christ comes first.”
Sher has always been thankful for the community that she has had with her fellow coaches and the athletic department, but in these times, she has been able to see this community in a different way.
“Everybody’s been through different things,” Sher said. “Everybody has a different story, a different way they communicate, different ways to relate. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. All of us bring different things to the table. There’s no way that you couldn’t appreciate that.”
Ultimately, Sher sees the outreach with the videos as being something that is in God’s control.
“God’s gonna take it,” Sher said. “All we can do is plant seeds. He’s gonna do with it what He wants.”
To see the videos, follow @uuathletics on Instagram or the Union University Athletics page on Facebook. You can also find them on YouTube on the UUAthletics channel.
