Huddles

HUDDLE MINISTRY

WHAT IS A HUDDLE?

A Huddle is a ministry program where two or more coaches or athletes meet on a regular basis to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ and His church. We want to empower leaders to create an environment in the sports community where the Gospel is made known and lived out through intentional conversations. Our prayer is that these environments will help FCA coaches, athletes, and volunteers make disciples who make disciples.

WHERE DO

HUDDLES EXIST?

Anywhere coaches and athletes are! On the field, at the track, on the mountain, in the pool … wherever coaches and athletes are, we believe Huddles can exist to help those coaches and athletes grow in a relationship with Jesus Christ and His Church. Many are hosted before or after practices, before games or competitions, and on school campuses before school or at lunch.

TYPES OF HUDDLES

MULTI-SPORT

A multi-sport or campus Huddle is a small group bible study for coaches and athletes from multiple community sports teams.
GENDER SPECIFIC HUDDLE

Huddles that gather only male or only female coaches or athletes.
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LEADERSHIP HUDDLE

Huddles for Huddle Leaders or potential Huddle Leaders focused on discipleship, leadership, and planning any Huddles these leaders lead.
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TEAM HUDDLE

A Team Huddle encourages and challenges athletes on the same sports team and gathers during a time accessible to the team.
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SPORT SPECIFIC HUDDLE

Huddles that gather individual athletes or coaches from the same sport.
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HOW TO START A HUDDLE

Engage God First – ask the Lord what the right next step for you is. Who are the coaches and/or athletes you want to serve or build relationship with? Where are they at in their faith journey? How much time do you have to offer coaches/athletes who communicate interest? Who else will God bring to help you lead?

2. Contact your local FCA Staff member about applying to lead with FCA.

3. Complete our E3 Overview course at www.fca.org/e3. E3 is the framework for how we follow Jesus and make disciples at FCA.

Our team will listen and help you take the next steps to build healthy FCA ministry!

GATHER A STARTING TEAM

*Only for on-campus Huddles

1. Volunteer

Every Huddle requires a coach or an adult leader (pastor, parent, teacher) who will be involved with the group and assist the Athlete Leaders. Within this role, you will walk alongside student athlete leaders in your area helping them to grow in their relationship with Jesus and equipping them with the tools they need to make disciples of all whom they influence.

2. Huddle Leaders

There are three different types of Huddle Leaders depending on the Huddle.

An athlete Huddle leader is an athlete of any age who wants to disciple other athletes through an FCA Huddle. 

A volunteer Huddle Leader is a man or woman from the local church who wants to disciple coaches or athletes through an FCA Huddle. 

A coach Huddle Leader is a coach of any sport who wants to disciple other coaches or athletes through an FCA Huddle. 

3. Church Partner*

Church partners are a central part of our mission. We want to lead coaches and athletes into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ AND HIS CHURCH. We want to mobilize members of the local church to make disciples of coaches and athletes on and off the field. And we want our coaches and athletes to find local church families that they can worship with. These are churches that will help you create the Huddle, care for the coaches and athletes, and help them grow in relationship with Jesus and the local church family.. If you are interested in learning more about becoming a church partner with FCA, contact us.

4. Campus Advisor

Most athlete Huddles on public school campuses need to be led by athlete Huddle leaders and established as an official school club through the school’s specific process. Most schools require clubs to have a staff member oversee club activity as an advisor. This could be a believing coach who teaches in the building, a staff member who is a believer, or someone who is supportive of FCA.

*Because On Campus Coach Huddles are not school clubs and are voluntary adult gatherings, generally they do not need an advisor or to go through a club process.

5. FCA Staff

Every Huddle requires an FCA staff member to provide support, training and resources to launch and support the ministry.

6. Prayer Team

These men and women commit to regularly praying for the Huddle and all the coaches and athletes involved. They can gather corporately as a group or pray individually.