Learn how Faith is like Football
Welcome to a fun look at how football is like faith, specifically that of the Catholic Church!
Faith, much like the game, works best when we understand the rules, respect the boundaries, and remember we’re part of something bigger than ourselves.
Let’s start with some background.
God gave Moses the Ten Commandments to serve as a moral foundation for His people. The Israelites had just been freed from slavery in Egypt and were stepping into a new life as a free nation. Like any community, they needed structure - guidelines to help them live peacefully, justly, and in right relationship with one another.
Surrounded by pagan nations, some of them ruthless, God’s desire was clear: Love God. Love your neighbor. Live in a way that reflects who you belong to.
Football works the same way.
A football game without rules would be chaos. The field has lines. The teams have assignments. The officials enforce boundaries so the game can be played fairly and safely. The rules aren’t there to ruin the game - they make the game possible.
Encroachment and Respecting the Line
If you’ve ever watched football, you’ve probably seen encroachment. That’s when a defensive player jumps over the line before the ball is snapped and makes contact with the offensive player. The referee throws a yellow flag, blows the whistle, announces the number, and the penalty is five yards.
Encroachment is crossing a line that isn’t yours to cross.
We see it outside of football too. Maybe it’s your spouse taking 70% of the bed and leaving you with 30%. Or the driver in the lane that’s ending who speeds ahead and cuts in at the last second - using a turn signal as if that somehow makes it acceptable. In those cases, there’s no referee, no whistle, and no yellow flag… just a test of patience. Sometimes accepting the 30% is simply a form of penance.
Football is a physical game. Players expect to get hit. They understand the contact, and there are usually no hard feelings when it happens within the rules. But crossing the line - encroachment - comes with consequences.
Faith Has Boundaries Too
The 2nd Commandment teaches us: “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.”
At its core, this commandment is about respect - respect for God and for the people around us. Using God’s name casually or in vulgar language offends Him and often offends others as well, even if they don’t say it out loud.
I once had a close friend I played golf with. Like many golfers, he struggled when a brand-new golf ball found the middle of a pond. But his frustration often included using the Lord’s name in vain... something he didn’t do off the course.
Because I loved him like a brother, I brought it to his attention privately. At first, he didn’t believe me. So we agreed on a simple signal: if I heard it, I’d itch my nose. Within five minutes, it happened. When he noticed the signal, he stopped, came over, hugged me, and said, “Thank you. I didn’t realize I was using my Lord’s name that way.”
That’s not judgment, that’s accountability.
That’s teammates helping one another play better.
Our Witness Matters
Some people think this commandment is silly or insignificant. But words matter. Once spoken, they can’t be taken back.
I remember a group of men finishing lunch after having too much to drink. Their language became loud, crude, and included the Lord’s name in vain, while families with children sat nearby. These men were recognizable members of their parish. Their witness that day spoke louder than they probably realized.
My mother used to say two things:
- You cannot take back spoken words.
- A bad reputation sticks like skunk stench - you can’t wash it off.
Playing Our Position Well
Like football, faith is not a solo sport. We all have a role to play, and how we act affects the whole team.
Today, you and I have a role to play with every person we encounter.
May I be a positive influence.
May I respect the lines.
And may I live my faith in a way that honors God, on the field and off.
