Away Game: A Christian Parent's Guide to Navigating Youth Sports

Transform the competitive sports field into a discipleship opportunity as you help your young athlete become not just a better player but a devoted follower of God.

If we don't own the process of discipling our kids as they play sports, sports culture will do it for us. But as parents, we can get so consumed with our young athletes' physical development that we miss the opportunities athletics provide to help them grow spiritually. Away Game challenges us to be more than spectators on the sidelines of our kids' spiritual lives. Discover how to:

• Leverage sports as a platform for instilling biblical values in kids and teens.
• Keep joy, play, and gratitude at every level of your child's athletic experience.
• Use sports involvement as an opportunity to strengthen your relationship with your child--from car-ride conversations to post-game processing.
• Spark faith-based discussions about sport-culture challenges such as handling pressure, dealing with failure, and being a next-level teammate.
• Counter the toxic elements of today's youth sports culture by cultivating kingdom virtues like self-control, humility, and peace--in yourself and your kids.

Away Game empowers you to embrace the role of spiritual mentor throughout your child's athletic journey as you recognize--in the margins of every practice or game--winning opportunities for spiritual growth.


Author: Brian Smith,Ed Uszynski
Publisher: David C Cook
Published: 07/01/2025
Pages: 264
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.66lbs
Size: 8.15h x 5.87w x 0.54d
ISBN: 9780830788361

About the Author
As two dads who've seen both the challenges and beauty of youth sports, Brian and Ed offer relatable wisdom to help parents guide their children spiritually in every season.

Brian Smith is the author of several books, including The Christian Athlete, and has been on staff with Athletes in Action since 2008. A graduate of Wake Forest University, Brian has a master's degree in Theology and Sports Studies through Baylor University. Brian lives in Lowell, Michigan, with his wife and three kids and writes regularly at the christianathlete.com.

Ed Uszynski is an author, speaker, and sports minister with over three decades' experience discipling college and professional athletes. He's written articles, essays, and training manuals at the intersection of faith and sport and is the lead strategist for Content Mercenaries. He has two theological degrees from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and a PhD in American Culture Studies from Bowling Green State University. He and his wife Amy have four children and live in Xenia, Ohio.