The Principles™ — The Ultimate Training Camp

There’s a serious spiritual problem in sport.

In our view of God and sport, we are too often guilty of swinging the pendulum to the extremes. On one hand, many athletes believe God is absent, uninvolved, and uninterested in our competitive lives. So we leave God in the locker room and compete without a second thought towards God, much less how we represent Him in competition. On the other hand, many athletes view God as a cosmic co-signer to their dreams and goals. If we acknowledge God, He will bless us. So we expect God to bless us and choose our side in competition. And if we lose, we must have somehow failed God.

With often tragic results, both of these extremes fall short of God’s intention for the beautiful thing we call sport. God does indeed have something to say.

Enter the Athletes in Action Principles of Athletic Competition™

The Principles of Athletic Competition™ are the gospel applied to sport, experienced through sport, and spoken in the language of sport. As the core Bible teaching of the Ultimate Training Camp, the five Principles™ have been developed over decades to provide college athletes the opportunity to hear from God and learn how to integrate faith, life, and sport—ultimately becoming Total Athletes who live and compete with freedom and purpose. The Principles™ answer critical questions that college athletes are asking.

Every athlete gives their allegiance to something or someone. The Bible calls this worship.
God created us to worship, but when we worship anything other than God, chaos is around the corner.
So, who or what do you worship?

Every athlete is motivated by something or someone. Perhaps it’s fear of failure, pride, or self-respect. Or perhaps it's changing your family legacy or reaching your personal goals.
God intends for us to be motivated by a sustaining Power that doesn’t change in times and seasons. Find this motivation and the game changes.
So, what motivates you?

Every athlete wants to get better. The prescription is already written: Sweat. But how does an athlete grow spiritually?
As people made in God’s image, God intends us to play a role in our growth, and yet it’s not simply sweat, it’s also surrender. How do we do that?
So, how do you grow?

Every athlete faces pain and suffering. Injuries, ridicule, shame, fear, pressure. Even the “perfect” career eventually ends—and that’s a loss. Life is no different.
God intends for pain and suffering to make us better and be used for a purpose greater than ourselves.
So, how do you deal with suffering?

Every athlete faces a common temptation: Build your own kingdom. We all want to leave a legacy that extends beyond the sport we play, and yet it’s temporary.
God intends you to play an important role in a story greater than yourself: Growing God’s Kingdom on earth, a Kingdom that will have no end.
So, how do you live for God’s Kingdom instead of your kingdom?