There's more demand for character coaches than there are volunteers," said Ben Swarr, director for Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) Berks County, who works with athletes in Twin Valley and Governor Mifflin school districts. Swarr is also a former character coach for Cocalico High School wrestling.

"We are looking for volunteers and for coaches willing to have character coaches (help out)," added FCA's Kyle Martin, who works with students at Lampeter-Strasburg, Conestoga Valley, and Solanco high schools.

Adam Burns, FCA area representative with Pequea Valley and Ephrata high schools, noted that the job of a character coach is to serve the coaching staff team in any way he or she can, and that a volunteer need not be proficient in a sport to be a character coach. Character coaches are asked to aid the head coach with a focus on social and emotional development of student-athletes. Objectives include encouraging athletes, working to create a positive culture, and helping to develop leadership characteristics in athletes. The first year of serving usually involves building relationships, followed by working to develop leadership skills. "If the door opens to spiritual conversation, that's awesome, but the sole purpose is to serve," added Burns.

Burns also noted that character coaching may look different depending on the specific sport and the players. He pointed out that Diana Roth, who is the FCA representative for ELANCO and Cocalico school districts and Lancaster Mennonite High School, is also a character coach for the Garden Spot girls' soccer team. "It's a team of girls with an all-male coaching staff," explained Burns. "(Her role) opens doors for girls when they're going through stuff. She is there to be on the bench and develop relationships."

Burns recalled that one of his first experiences as a character coach for the Pequea Valley baseball team was to oversee six students who needed to complete schoolwork to be academically eligible to play. "We would have had to forfeit three games the following week because we would not have had enough players (if the work was not completed)," Burns explained.

Martin noted that his experience has included working through emotions with a student who was benched by a coach due to a class disruption. He has also worked on character development with team leaders. "The way you react to things on the field can change anyone's perspective," he said, noting that in one game an opposing team player made an inappropriate gesture as he crossed home plate. "How do we respond to that as a team?" he asked. "We don't want to emotionally react. We want to take a deep breath and respond."

Swarr said that the FCA volunteer process includes an application and a 30-minute training video. "It's an introduction to FCA's discipleship strategy," he said. "Ideally, (volunteers) meet regularly with the local staff people for resources and advice." Burns added that character coaches are asked to be at each home game and to try to be at practice once or twice a week for 30 minutes as their schedule allows.

FCA has chapters in nearly every Lancaster County school district, and the organization is eager to meet individuals who would like to serve as character coaches and team coaches who are open to taking part in the program. Readers who would like to know more may visit http://www.lancasterfca.org or email tvandalen@fca.org.