♦ Knowledge: We will provide instruction in the fundamentals of competitive baseball, as well as safety, rules & strategy. The word of God will be made important during practices, games, and events. We also will share the knowledge of Christ to grow them in their faith and relationship with God, alongside strengthening their athletic abilities. By advancing their knowledge of baseball and God's word, they’ll come away with the ability to perform at high levels in their sport and in their faith.

♦ Discipline: While discipline must always be constructive when dealing with an athletic team, parents and fellow colleagues, cooperation and correction must be taken seriously and employed respectfully. Leadership will also be respectful in all interactions, while still standing firm in the

high standards and expectations set by the program. In the Bible, discipline and adherence to His word was crucial to keeping people safe, out of trouble and to show themself as a good example to glorify God. Here in the baseball program, we will strive to show the light of God through our actions and behavior as a testimony for all to see. “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.” ~Hebrews 12:11

♦ Responsibility: The responsibility of young man is a great one and as they grow into adults, it becomes a higher level of importance. We will encourage and foster responsibility on and off the field. We as leadership will lead by example and mentor the young men in taking responsibility and upholding that value in all that they do. Teaching responsibility also prepares these young men to face trials, tribulations and temptations in regular life and to know that with each decision, consequences follow. “For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.” ~ Luke 12:48b

♦ Integrity: “Most men will proclaim everyone his own goodness: But a faithful man who can find? ~ Proverbs 20:1-6 “The just man walketh in his integrity.” ~Proverbs 20:7 With God as our example we can see that integrity is of the utmost of importance. During our time together at practice, games or social events we will always aim to operate in integrity. We know that we all fall short and will fail at times but how we make it right and move forward is what will be the key to success on and off the field.

♦ Spiritual Wellness: Before or after each practice we will have a short devotional that focuses on a principle of God's word. We will always put God first and will take time for discussions and studies that focus on things pertinent and applicable to the lives of these young men, helping to guide and lead to help them through trials. Before and after each practice and game we will thank God for the players, for the opportunity for fellowship, for their athletic abilities, for the safety of all players on the field, and that the day’s endeavors would glorify Him. We will uplift and glorify God at all times; in our successes and in our failures, acknowledging his goodness even in the hard losses. Keeping God at the center of our program will nurture the spiritual wellness of our players.

♦ Teamwork & Compassion: Bullying or hazing of any kind will not be tolerated. We are all created equal in God’s eyes and no one is better than the other based on talents, wealth, success, or appearance. At the root of a successful team is unity and Christ welds that into a stronger bond. As leadership we will aim to unite as a team and build camaraderie and trust. “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor. If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.” ~Ecclesiastes 4:9-12.

Through team-building activities and by keeping Christian values as our foundation, we believe that we can create a cohesive team that will honor God and compete competitively at all levels. We will hold socials for the players and their families to fellowship and deepen the bond of not only the team, but the community the Patriots are working to create. We will also have a big brother system where the older players will have the opportunity to serve as a mentor for the younger team members. Interaction between the older and younger teams will allow the high school athletes to cultivate empathy and practice leadership skills.

♦ Good Stewardship: Helping our fellow teammates and the community will be expected in the program. Serving oneself is easy but serving others requires the exercise of sacrificing both time and effort. We will aim to volunteer once a month, as a team, for a cause that the players choose. This teaches good stewardship and to show kindness as we’re called to do by scripture. By displaying this characteristic it not only grows character in a young man but it establishes compassion to those around us and makes us aware of ways our life can be used for the glory of God. “For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” ~Mark 10:45

♦ Sportsmanship: Good sportsmanship is something that has been disappearing from the sports fields and courts across the nation. Unfortunately, it’s common now to see poor sportsmanship, foul language and disrespectful attitudes and disruptive behaviors. We want the baseball program at SA Patriots to always lead by example in humility, winning gracefully and losing with dignity. According to the bible “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves.”~Philippians 2:3. Keeping a positive and productive attitude in wins and losses will be an expectation for not only the players but also for the coaches and parents. “Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth” ~Proverbs 24:17

♦ Identity: In a world that says “you can be whoever or whatever you want” or encourages the fluidity and manipulation of gender, junior high and high school prove to be a pivotally important time to teach the truth of God’s word and reinforce that they are made in the image and likeness of God. God is not the author of confusion, but of truth, clarity, peace and purity. As the players develop their identities as young men, students, sons, siblings, and athletes, we will affirm that ultimately, their true identity is found in Christ and who the Creator designed them to be. The SA Patriots baseball program will first and foremost, seek to glorify God, while developing Biblical character in Godly young men through our athletic endeavors. Our desire is to equip our homeschooled student athletes intellectually, physically, socially, and spiritually in Christ. We also want to uphold biblical principles of teamwork, self-discipline, fellowship and encouragement. As it says in Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, “Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.”