One Yard Short
Turning Your Defeats into Victories
- Christian Living
- Publisher: W Publishing Group (Thomas Nelson)
- Published: 2008
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Publisher's Description
Coach Les Steckel understands that life is difficult. It's marked by disappointments and defeats. But what's important is what you do with those defeats. One Yard Short is the amazing story of Les Steckel. A coach for 32 years, with 23 of those seasons coaching in the NFL, Steckel has been through his shares of ups and downs, having experienced the pain and disappointment of job loss time and time again in a way that only professional sports coaches know. A lesser man would have given up and become bitter, but in the midst of each disappointment, each "failure," God was there, picking him up, dusting him off, telling Coach Steckel that He believed in him and that there was a special plan for his life. In One Yard Short, Coach Steckel teaches readers through his own life lessons and football experiences how to hear God's voice in the midst of disappointments and failures.
Endorsements (12)
“In life we would all prefer victories, but many times God uses setbacks and apparent defeats to build our character, strengthen our faith, and set us squarely on His path. In One Yard Short, 32-year coaching veteran Les Steckel takes his reader inside the world of competitive sports and shows how God used adversity to advance him into true victory.”
“Our victories and losses may not be as public as NFL and college coach Les Steckel has experienced, but what God taught him in some painful losses will encourage everyone who reads One Yard Short.”
“Football parallels a lot of what life offers us. Sometimes our forward progress is stopped short of our goals. From his many years of college and NFL coaching, Les describes sound principles to live by and confirms that life’s greatest victories often come after embarrassing defeats.”
“Upon further review,’ your losses may actually propel you toward your most gratifying victories. Read how game loss, job loss, and genuine brokenness for Coach Steckel ultimately enabled him to experience victory he could only have dreamed about.”
“All of us have at one time or another come up ‘One Yard Short’ on some project we attempted. Frustration, embarrassment, bitterness—these things are common responses to our losses. Learn from long-time NFL coach Les Steckel that your most satisfying victories in life may be an outcome of your worst and most painful defeats.”
“One Yard Short is a compelling, real-life story. Coach Steckel’s NFL experiences reflect life’s victories and defeats. In Les’ playbook each snap of the ball is designed for success. Each of us has much to learn from our own personal ‘One Yard Short’ experiences. This book reminds us that life is a journey, and that God has a plan for our destination.”
“One Yard Short is much more than the story of one of pro football’s most memorable games. It is an amazing story of perseverance under adversity, and a testimony to how all of our defeats can be turned into true victories.”
“Arguably the greatest play in Super Bowl history brought heart-wrenching defeat to the Tennessee Titans, and yet a new life mission for Coach Les Steckel. Man or woman, football fan or not, in One Yard Short, you’ll gain amazing insights into lessons learned from sport’s most competitive arena.”
“We all prefer victories, but Coach Steckel’s life demonstrates that often we can learn more about ourselves and how God made us after devastating defeats. Reading One Yard Short will cause you to consider how you can turn your own disappointments into incredible opportunities.”
“In One Yard Short, my friend Les Steckel draws from his extensive background as an NFL coach to challenge and teach lessons on life and faith that will equip and encourage readers to turn their defeats into victories. This is a book of hope for those who feel they have fallen short of their goals.”
Dr. Tony Evans
“I have often said that competitive greatness is not about winning a game. It’s about learning to give all we have to give. When we rise to every occasion, give our best effort and make those around us better, it ultimately does not matter if we are one basket (or one yard) short. As a player, and now as a mentor, Les Steckel truly embodies this principle. I have long supported the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and appreciated Les Steckel. Thank you, Les, for continuing to be a model for today’s rising generation of young athletes.”
“On the football field you experience tremendous victories and great disappointments. In One Yard Short, Les Steckel talks about how to handle both—by keeping your eyes on God and letting Him direct you. Whether you are an athlete or not, you’ll enjoy this book because it takes the lessons learned on the football field and applies them to the bigger game of life.”
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