Lubbock Christian University (LCU) faculty Dr. David Fraze and Dr. Monica Hill have published their new book, Practical Wisdom for Families with Athletes.
Featuring the tagline, “Winning isn’t the ultimate goal,” the cross-discipline book speaks to the very heart of life with a modern athlete. “Competitive athletics is broken,” the authors share. “In our hearts, we know this to be true. We are winning and building ‘champions,’ but we have lost the true reward of athletic involvement. We need some practical wisdom to better navigate the journey.”
Dr. David Fraze is the James A. “Buddy” Davidson Charitable Foundation Youth and Family Ministry Endowed Chair in the LCU Department of Biblical Studies, and he has served for over 35 years working with adolescents and families in church, school, and athletic settings. He has spent the last 15 years working with coaches, student-athletes, and athletic families on performance, team dynamics, and character development.
Dr. Monica Hill is an associate professor and the master’s program coordinator in the Department of Exercise and Sport Sciences at LCU. She has worked with K–12 and college students and student-athletes in Texas and California for more than 17 years.
Drs. Fraze and Hill invite parents, coaches, and athletes into deeper conversations about the nature of their relationship with competitive athletics. “This book cannot make your athlete a superstar,” they share, “but it can help them become the best version of themselves. It also cannot make your athlete’s difficult team environment better, but you and your athlete can better understand how to navigate such situations.”
The book, published by Leafwood Publishers, features chapter titles including “Balance Matters,” “Conflict Matters,” “Failure Matters,” “Mindset Matters,” “Responsibility Matters,” “Strength and Conditioning Matters,” and “Church Matters.”
Coaches, sports administrators, and parents have given raving reviews of Practical Wisdom for Families with Athletes. Larry Hays, head softball coach at Colorado Christian University and College Hall of Fame baseball coach, shared, “This book meets head on the craziness that is destroying the original intent of athletics. It provides ready-to-use suggestions for helping both athletes and parents get the most out of athletics. A must-read!”
Likewise, Dr. Andy Laughlin, Chair of LCU’s Department of Natural Sciences and NCAA Faculty Representative, lauded, “The words within are mindfully crafted armor against damaging blows for athletes and those who raise them. Reading it will cause growth, and implementing the ideas will improve all who interact with athletes. This book should be required reading for anyone who wants to compete.”
Dr. Fraze and Dr. Hill state: “We have an opportunity to do something meaningful and challenge the all-in, identity-robbing practices in sports so athletes can do what they were initially recruited to do: have fun with friends!”