Family Discussion: April Madness
The following article is designed to help parents dialogue about a current event with their children. It was written at a 7th grade reading level.
READ
Michigan and UCLA are the new kings and queens of college basketball.
The Wolverines beat UConn 69-63 in the men's championship game on Monday. The win caps a remarkable turnaround under second-year head coach Dusty May. The boys from Ann Arbor stood (very) tall all year. Their “shortest” player, Elliot Cadeau (6'1"), was named Most Outstanding Player. He dropped 19 points to give Michigan their confetti shower.
On the women's side, the UCLA Bruins put a bruisin' on South Carolina 79-51 Sunday, with five players scoring double figures. It's the school's first-ever women's trophy and coach Cori Close's first time cutting the net. She's led the Lady Bruins for her entire fifteen-season head coaching career.
Off the court, President Trump signed an executive order on Friday that whistles for new college sports rules. The order limits how many times athletes can transfer schools (one) and how long they're eligible (five years). It also limits outside groups from paying athletes to play at a particular school. The move aims to protect women’s and smaller sports from losing funding to big-money programs like football and basketball.
CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE
Sports can be a field where spiritual fruit grows. Through sports, we experience the thrill of victory, resilience from defeat, the beauty of teamwork, and the delight of play. As you watch, cheer, and discuss sports, keep an eternal perspective by focusing on growing Christlike character, not just the scoreboard.
REFLECT
What gospel lesson can be taught through this story?
Believers measure winning differently than the rest of the world.
Most college athletes experience disappointment and failure more often than victory. For every player who makes the Final Four, there are thousands who don’t even make the tournament. But that doesn’t mean their work was worthless, because (hopefully) their discipline and friendships have shaped them for the better.
In the same way, Christians can expect to face failure and hardship on this side of eternity. But what will matter when Jesus returns is not how many wins and losses you rack up on your score sheet, but who you seek—and who you become—in the process (John 17:3; James 1:2-4).
What do I want to make sure my kids know in light of this story?
Give all kinds of work your best effort, for God’s glory.
March Madness is an opportunity for college athletes to showcase a lifetime of hard work and talent. And it’s easy to marvel at a 6’10” superstar… but God has made you for beautiful, hard things too. You are his workmanship, created to bring Him glory whether you’re doing schoolwork, cleaning your room, practicing piano, changing diapers, or plugging data into a spreadsheet: “We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10 CSB).
RESPOND
Discuss: What’s something you’re working on that feels hard or discouraging right now? How have you seen Christlike character growing in you through the process?
Memorize James 1:2–3, “Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance” (CSB).
Pray for one another, that you would experience joy and growth in the midst of your hard things.
Credit: Decaf (The Pour Over for Families). "April Madness." April 9, 2026.