Does scripture belong on the sports field? A volunteer little league coach in Prince George County, Virginia, is under fire after putting scripture on his soccer team’s jerseys.
The religious showdown began when volunteer coach Andrew Collins, a devout Christian, decided to add the words ‘John 14:6’ to the jerseys of his squad of 7, 8, and 9-year-olds.
That verse reads, “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’”
Following complaints from the community, the county threatened to shutter the team’s entire season if they showed up to play in their scripture-themed jerseys.
After an attorney got involved, county officials backpedaled. The county is reviewing their policy on uniform alterations, and allowing the team to play… for the time being.
The Jesus-y Jerseys
The Prince George County Parks and Recreation Department – which organizes the county’s little league games – distributes blank jerseys to teams every year.
For years, the county allowed alterations to the jerseys to include the kids' names, but it also wasn’t uncommon to see the name of a local business on the back of a jersey as a sponsorship. The program’s rules were fairly informal – so long as the message wasn’t obscene or offensive, jersey alterations were allowed without issue.
That is, until the biblical jerseys were unveiled.
Coach Collins makes no bones about it. He's here to proselytize to children, and coaching comes secondary.
“It’s my mission that I can be on the soccer field and teach kids that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life,” Collins explained. “My goal on the soccer field is really just to talk to kids about where they stand with Jesus, and we kick the ball around while we do that.”
Did Parents Consent?
Collins said he received parental consent to add the scripture to the jerseys. However, it appears that not every parent got the message, as at least one was surprised to see the jerseys at a game earlier this month.
“I didn’t feel that that has any place on the soccer field,” said parent Zach Devlin, who does not identify as Christian and who says he was blind sided at the sight of the jerseys at a recent game.
“I’m a big First Amendment supporter. Freedom of religion is important. That’s freedom from religion as well. So, I don’t think it’s appropriate to be proselytizing on the soccer field.” Devlin has since pulled his kid from the little league program.
Christianity Scores a Goal
The situation boiled over earlier this month after complaints to the Parks department piled up. Fearing that the jerseys could be interpreted as a county endorsement of Christianity, the Parks department informed Collins that they were ordering the team blank replacement jerseys.
He was warned: If the team showed up to any games in the scripture jerseys, they wouldn’t be allowed to play. Further violations could put their entire season at risk.
Yet just as Collins was gearing up for a legal challenge against the county, they backpedaled, overturning the jersey ban and instead launching a policy review.
Until the review is done, players may wear their scripture jerseys. County officials issued a statement, saying:
“While previous alterations, such as players’ names or sponsorship logos, have previously occurred without complaint, participation in County-run athletic leagues has not historically included having to make one’s religious preferences known or displayed. As such, the addition of religious messaging on County-purchased uniforms for a County-run program presents complex First Amendment considerations.”
Is Soccer Secular?
On the one hand, the county previously didn’t have any explicit rules prohibiting jerseys with religious messaging. Some claim that any policy changes now would be clear persecution of the Christian faith and a violation of Collins’ First Amendment rights.
Yet some critics allege that the jerseys are already a violation of separation of church and state, tantamount to a state-sponsored endorsement of Christianity. The existence of the jerseys, as well as the coach’s open desire to proselytize, is clearly coercive to impressionable kids, they say.
Others present logical hypotheticals. Would things be the same if the coach was a Muslim, hoping to put Islamic scripture on the backs of dozens of kids? What about if he was a Satanist, printing ‘Hail Satan’ on each jersey?
What is your reaction? Does Jesus belong on youth soccer jerseys?
46 comments
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taycomama
Is the team a church activity? Are there no non-Christians in the County? This is an outrageous violation of the Constitution! I would not allow my son to be on that team.
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Douglas Robert Spindler
I think this is a wonderful idea. I'm willing to pay to have Bible versus like Deuteronomy 23:1
“If a man’s testicles are crushed or his penis is cut off, he may not be admitted to the assembly of the LORD"
And Ephesians 5:22—
"Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord."
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ServantOfJudgement
God wants good family men at the steering wheel and He wants good gals to accompany those family men so a proper team is married in each set.
I wonder if it's pure chance or designed coincidence that drove you to quote two seemingly unrelated verses that are directly related to one another.
Pure wisdom right there.
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Rev “D”
Once again a christian zealot is forcing his religion onto others. He is there to coach soccer, NOT INDOCTRINATE his beliefs on youth. As for the First Amendment issue, if kids on his team must wear the coach’s christian beliefs, it violates the kids’ rights. Your rights are fine, as long as I’m not required to be a billboard for them.
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ServantOfJudgement
If puting scripture on a jersey gets the kid's football season scrapped, let's do that on all jerseys nation wide and ban all brutality against children.
Ban childhood football entirely.
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Patricia Ann Gross
From what I saw in many youth football programs, I'd have to agree with you on that last statement. I pulled my kid out, and vowed he would only play football unless it was for a coach who was trained and paid to be a coach, never again for an "armchair quarterback."
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Lionheart
Could we have a Book of Mormon verse, or even a Qur’an verse on their shirts. 😜
🦁❤️
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Rev. BH
Rastafarian would be groovy.
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Ealdormon Piparskeggr Robinson
I'd prefer Pastafarian, Ramen!
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Rev “D”
Pass the dutchie…
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ServantOfJudgement
No. Maybe some Timothy Leary verses would be better.
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Patricia Ann Gross
Questions:
Is this a city or county funded program?
Are there sponsors that sponsor teams and print their logos on the jerseys for that team?
Are churches allowed to be sponsors?
If this is a city funded program - it is a violation of church and state. Most athletic leagues like this are non-profit that may be loosely tied to the city recreation department with some funding from there, but independently run by a league. When my kids played in local city leagues, local businesses sponsored teams and put their logos on the jerseys. If a church sponsors a team and wants to put a scripture reference or verse (or even a cross), that would be okay if it passes muster with the by-laws of sponsorship and the content of the logos/tag lines. It was interesting when my son played for the local funeral home's pee-wee football team.
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Eric
In the context of the Prince George County soccer jersey controversy, faith isn’t inherently foul play—but its placement in a publicly funded space can cross constitutional lines.
Coach Andrew Collins’ use of “John 14:6” on youth jerseys invokes the First Amendment’s delicate balance: the right to free religious expression versus the prohibition on government endorsement of religion. When scripture appears on uniforms distributed through a county-run program, it risks being perceived as state-sponsored messaging, which courts have consistently ruled against under the Establishment Clause.
The issue intensifies when minors are involved. Virginia law (§ 22.1-279.6) mandates religious neutrality in public youth programs. Even with claimed parental consent, the presence of dissenting parents suggests that consent may not have been fully informed or unanimous. Under Virginia Code § 1-240.1, parents do have the right to guide their children’s religious exposure—but that right doesn’t extend to using public platforms to promote specific beliefs.
So, is faith foul play? Not when expressed personally. But when faith symbols are embedded in government-affiliated activities without clear boundaries, it can unintentionally exclude, coerce, or violate constitutional protections. The real foul isn’t belief—it’s blurring the line between personal conviction and public endorsement.
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Bishop William Dusenberry, DD
Until exposing little, bitty, kiddies, to epistemological, metaphysical, ontological, ineffable balderdash — that even the most learned theologians are unable to comprehend — teaching kids who’re old enough to pray, to something that defines any human explanation, instead of even attempting to instill in them self confidence, is institutionalized socially endorsed child abuse that unwitting parents inflict on their kids. Praying is verboten in the Secular Humanist Pantheist denomination of the ULC.
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ServantOfJudgement
Now William says we can't even pray here at ULC.
-SoJ snaps to attention ----Sir, yes sir!
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Dean T. Mason
I feel that there are too many religions out there. We are diverse. I don't think it is fair to groom our kids in this manner. I don't' care who sponsors a team, it not fir to inflict our children with this pressure. It just unethical. It's a conflict of interest.
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Dorothy Hawkins
Non-sectarian, county-run program + bible verses on T-shirts =
VIOLATION of the Separation of Church and State.
FULL STOP
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Walter Abington
Save it for church not public school indoctrination!
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Deborah Jane Vogel
Should Bible verses or references be allowed on children’s community team jerseys?
Yes, if 1. the league allows it, 2. the parents/guardians agree to it, 3. If parents/guardians/kids can opt out WITHOUT RETRIBUTION.
No, if any of the above conditions are not met.
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Tom Herman
I wish I had a nickel for everytime some misguided zealot proselytized to another. The coach here has already proclaimed his ill intent. I'm appalled that such a leader would purposefully impose such intent on an impressionable group of children and more so that the league or the publicly funded recreation center would permit it. Pedophiles pray on impressionable children and such manipulation while not physically abusive crosses the line to possible mental abuse. Religious preaching has its place under the US Constitution and our protected separation of church and state but the publicly funded sports field is clearly not appropriate. Last I heard, we still operate with the rule of law in this Country. This coach obviously knew better and should be reprimanded. The Bible verse should be removed and sent to be taught in the proper venue for such, either church or Sunday school.
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Peter Senderowitz
1- that's part of the problem : we have Freedom of Worship , not Separation of Church and State ; 2- a public school must be free from any religious "advertisements" : it would also be nice to have schools free of Governmental Ideology.
Citizen Robespierre
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Daniel Todd Kamm
This clip says it all:
"Coach Collins makes no bones about it. He's here to proselytize to children, and coaching comes secondary.
“It’s my mission that I can be on the soccer field and teach kids that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life,” Collins explained. “My goal on the soccer field is really just to talk to kids about where they stand with Jesus, and we kick the ball around while we do that.”
"Did Parents Consent? Collins said he received parental consent to add the scripture to the jerseys. However, it appears that not every parent got the message, as at least one was surprised to see the jerseys at a game earlier this month."
“... Zach Devlin, who does not identify as Christian... says he was blind sided at the sight of the jerseys at a recent game."
“ 'I’m a big First Amendment supporter. Freedom of religion is important. That’s freedom from religion as well. So, I don’t think it’s appropriate to be proselytizing on the soccer field.' Devlin has since pulled his kid from the little league program."
Me: this is sad, that kids can't simply participate and have some fun in a local sports team without some adult (s) screwing it up for them.
Mr Collins knew exactly what he was doing and why he was doing it, esp. if he planned ahead for parental consent... but I would add that his "mission" is all about creating controversy and making a headline or two, a name for himself, and attract a rogue attorney that can possibly establish a legal "remedy" that he imagines may be profitable.
I used to live in DC, and this sort of thing is no surprise in the surrounding suburbs ... lots o' different people pandering to lots o' different things... this stuff was bad out there 30-40 years ago... which is why I chose to live and spend my money in the city during my time there.
I'm not feeling sorry for Mr Collins... he overstepped his bounds, and may have infringed on some other people's rights, AND he feels justified in doing it , because he believes his faith allows him free reign to do what he does.
From my readings, Jesus advised those who believed as he did to worship privately, at home, and to more or less render one aspect of the world we experience to the other as appropriate to avoid conflicting with what they believed about the "here and now" versus the "hereafter."
Some people want it all one way. Trumpism is acknowledged in that statement. But Trumpism is mainly an abuse of the English language and the ability to construct a coherent message, whether verbally or in written form, and an assault on the intelligence of , well...most people.
Thankfully, we have our magnificent social contract : the Constitution, and its subsequent rights and guarantees; when we are offended, and choose to stand up for them and fight for them, we need to recognize there is something greater than ourselves: another side... we are instructed to "treat others as we wish to be treated," (g-d's part) while recognizing the rights of others under the law ("render unto Caesar....")
Both are absolutely necessary.
However in this case, Mr. Collins, I believe, not only overstepped his bounds relative to the initial concern, but that he fully intended to do so, and subsequently he is not advertising to promote Christianity... he is promoting himself.
Peace Out... Reb tk
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Douglas William Mitchell
If I were a parent there, I’d remove it and replace it with. “Hail Satan,” then dare the coach or league to force me to remove it.
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Randy Merka
Unless it's a private Christian group, organization, school or whatever then no it doesn't belong
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Pamela Vonbacho Ploof
Our constitution states separation of church and state! Unless this is a Christian school then it should not be on school property or anywhere else that pertains to the school. I have to remind people regularly about this. Most folks haven’t read the constitution at All. And some need to read it again.
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Dr. Zerpersande, NSC
The religiously delusional population tries this on a regular basis. Personally I view such abhorrent gullibility as a prime example of weaponized ignorance.
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Mark B. Trexler
Everyday it seems like people can't or don't want to agree with anything. The verse book, chapter, and number doesn't has any meaning unless it is already known. It truly violates nothing unless someone looks it up and then disagrees. We have a burger place, "In and Out" in the West. It has a verse on its wrappings. It is the best place to go to. Our society has become too wrapped up in just about everything. Maybe people should look the verse up. It won't harm anyone unless they won't believe it and go about their merry way.
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Mark P. Bender
Who decides when the children are told or not told of God? A general question, I'm not referring to a Bible passage. Where does it start - or never starts.
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Robert Gagnon
Oh the horror, the horror!
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Deborah Jane Vogel
If this is said tongue in cheek, I concur.
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Ronaldo
This is not unconstitutional, because Congress did not establish a religion nor does it prohibit anyone from exercising or not exercising their religious values. The children have few legal rights because they are not of legal age, but it does send a message some children or their parents may not want to send. The question should not be, does the Constitution require or ban this, but do the local rules do one or the other? If a sponsor like a church paid for the team's expenses, and wanted that message on the jerseys, and the county rules did not prohibit it, it should be permitted. On the other hand, if the coach added the message on his own, and did not verify in detail it was permitted by the county, he could be in violation of local rules, but not the Constitution.
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Edwin Wilfred Mckinney
Foul play to show the adorations for Yeshua on a t shirt are on your body, if we look at what that meant in the old testament yes it is foul. However, were in the new testament and the old testament has been replaced and the lord of LORDS has and had forseen our conditions. is it now love being outplayed on clothing wear?
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Michael Ray Lane
I don’t think any Christian is surprised by the objections. Jesus warned us about that. That said I’m not a big bumper sticker kind of guy or John 3:16 held up at sports events. If you’re doing it to evangelize it doesn’t work on the other hand if you’re doing it to antagonize your in the wrong. Coming to saving grace is a personal thing, someone sharing the good news with you and God softening your heart.
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Rev. Jim Sutton
I see no problem with it.
I've been to numerous professional player autograph signings and many of them include a scripture reference with their autograph.
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Cynthia Butler
There isn't anything wrong with putting scripture out there like that...This world needs God more than ever!!! Those that want to put down, criticize, or slander someone that is trying to help make this a better world by spreading the word of God need to just sit down and read a verse or two. We all know this world is going to hell, Satan is winning right now and Christians need to stand up and fight just a little harder so Satan can be stopped!!
I grew up Southern Baptist, I stopped going to church and stopped believing, drank a lot and did a lot of things I shouldn't have...I was invited to church from a friend and I finally went...and yes I felt very uncomfortable... but then the worship band started playing and I wish I could remember the song but it had me in tears, and it was in that moment I knew I needed to be there, that was 9 years ago, and I haven't missed a service since!! I have since been baptized, I have brought almost 40 of my friends to that church with me and 32 of them have been baptized. that is God working in me!!
It took me a long time to figure out why God left me on the earth, I have survived cancer twice, stopped drinking, never did drugs, and I have survived several other things a person don't. I have stage 3 kidney disease and it will be 3 years this Thanksgiving that I was in the hospital with my kidneys shutting down, people from my church came and prayed with me and I will say that those prayers saved me!! I use my voice to praise his holy name and I will challenge anyone who wants to say he isn't real. Put those Bible verses anywhere and everywhere!! My favorite is Psalms 91: 14-16...I live it!
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Roy S. Thorpe
Thumping the Bible doesn't sell faith! Love and kindness work much better! Don't shove your beliefs down someone's throats because it usually doesn't work!
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Randy Merka
Christians have never been good at that.
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Lion on the Beach
Is soccer secular? Obviously, you have never heard of Diego Maradona and The Hand of God goal in the World Cup.
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Steven John Fletcher
Completely different. That was one individual invoking the name of God as cover for his cheating. No similarity at all
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Walter J. Holbrook
When and where do you feel is the right place to display the word of God.
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Lionheart
Which mythical god are you referring to, mankind has crated so many? Are you one of those that thinks your god is the real one?
🦁❤️
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Marshall E Holly
Go ahead and suspend the coach and see if the team is still around. My experience is very few people are willing to put in the time.
Here we go again. Grooming children towards accepting "the One True Religion".
And which religion is that when there are 50,000 Christian religions.
Christianity is Christianity, they just cant agree on which denomination interprets and understands the Bible correctly, funny thing is, none of them do.
Right, no different than Islam, it was spread the same way, with violence, deception, and more.