Middle Schoolers Learning Valuable Lessons Through Sports Participation

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Each season, CAJ offers a host of interscholastic athletic programs to its middle and high school students. Well-maintained facilities such as the gym, mini gym, regulation turf field, and multipurpose room (MPR) ensure that all of our athletes have a chance to practice and compete frequently.

While CAJ aims for competitive athletes who can improve themselves and their teams, the philosophy of athletics at CAJ is as follows: “to contribute to the development of sportsmanship, character, attitudes, and behaviors that reflect biblical values.”

At the middle school level, this approach looks different than it does in high school. For example, maximum participation takes precedence above winning. Coaches do not cut players from tryouts and focus on giving every athlete ample opportunities to play in every game.

Athletic coordinator Caleb Cummings stresses that middle school coaches focus on teaching strategies, skills, and mentalities that will prepare athletes for long-term success on and off the field. All of these are more important than short-term victories on the playing field, Cummings says.

How have sports impacted middle school students at CAJ? Here are some testimonials from our current athletes:

Hannah (6th grade)- Volleyball
“I praise God that he brought me through so many relationships in the volleyball season. There are so many people who I wouldn't have known if I didn't join sports.”

Pollux (7th grade)- Cross Country, Volleyball
“I have grown both physically and mentally through sports. I learned to work as a team through sport and having good sportsmanship. I also have gotten a lot more fit physically. I can praise God by playing sports by taking care of the body that God has carefully built and given me.”

Seungmin (6th grade)- Volleyball
“We praise God by representing CAJ as Christians through the way we play in games, having good sportsmanship, and trying our very best.”

Vivi (8th grade)- Volleyball, Soccer, Basketball
“From playing sports, I get to know more about how important God is in my life. When we are really struggling in our games, He calms our hearts and gives us knowledge by telling us the right things to do.”

Sophia (7th)- Volleyball, Basketball
“One of the lessons I have learned while playing a sport at CAJ was teamwork. Good collaboration and teamwork will eventually lead to success. Instead of hogging the ball, it felt good when people passed the ball to me or if I passed to someone else. It made me feel involved and valued.”

Ellen (8th grade)- Volleyball, Track and Field
“I joined middle school volleyball at CAJ for three years, and it really changed my mindset about how sportsmanship and communication with others can affect my relationship with God. Throughout those years, not only have I improved in my sports skills, but I also have improved my relationship with God and others. I was able to see myself grow to have sportsmanship and not be overly competitive, even though it can be hard sometimes.”