4 Ways to Practice Nonviolence in a Game
Nonviolence isn’t passive or naïve; it’s disciplined love under pressure. The King Center names it “a love-centered way of thinking, speaking, acting, and engaging that leads to personal, cultural and societal transformation,” which means our habits in the huddle and our tone after the whistle are not small—they’re training for the Beloved Community. When the heat rises, we practice courage that refuses to harm, vision that refuses to dehumanize, and breath that refuses to feed the fire.
These four drills are simply game-speed ways to live King’s six principles
1) Be quick to repair after harm is done:
After an error or heated exchange, give a short apology (“My bad on the play”), tap gloves/hands, and propose a guardrail (“I’ll hit the cut next time”) so both sides can move forward without lingering tension. Take ownership of your mistake and seek repair.
2) Compete with dignity:
Play to win without dehumanizing opponents—use “I” statements, avoid insults, and anchor feedback in rules and safety, embodying love over hate and aiming for the Beloved Community even in rivalry.
3) Breathe before talking to the refs:
After a bad call, take two slow breaths, then ask a single clarifying question about the play (“What did you see on that screen?”) instead of arguing; it keeps focus on facts and lowers adrenaline so performance stays sharp. Nonviolence resists violence of the spirit as well as the body.
4) Use a sideline de‑escalation cue:
Agree on a team signal or phrase (“Reset—next play”) to gather briefly near the bench after a hot moment; use 10 seconds to name the adjustment, take a collective deep breath, and reassign roles before the next possession.
So take these on like film study and strength work. Apologize fast. Compete with a clean mouth and a clear conscience. Breathe before appealing a call. Reset together when it gets hot. Your team can become your Beloved Community, rivals can become partners in growth, and the game can become a classroom for justice shaped by love.