The Christians in Sport Podcast Christians in Sport

Alison Nicholas is a British golfer who reached the pinnacle of the sport in a highly successful career as both a player and then later on as the captain of a victorious Solheim Cup winning team in 2011. In a fascinating interview with Graham Daniels, she talks about what it looks like to be a successful leader and coach in elite sport and how her faith has helped her throughout her golfing career.

(0:00) Intro
(1:09) How Alison got into golf 
(3:00) Progressing and joining the ladies European tour 
(4:32) The key influencers in Alison's life and golf at the top level
(5:55) Coming to Christ through golfers on the European tour
(18:36) Stepping up to join the LPGA tour and playing in the states 
(11:01) Winning the US open 
(13:30) Being ruthless in competition with dignity 
(15:03) Captaining The Solheim Cup and tough decisions 
(17:20) Captaining for the second time
(20:45) Rigorous leadership
(24:42) The contrast between leading and playing 
(27:59) Winning the Solheim Cup
(29:25) Outro

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