Last Updated on October 19, 2023 by Emma
Do you need to pray before you play a basketball game? Have you been asked to pray for an upcoming basketball game?
Everybody who competes in a sport likes to win, of course. So, when we ourselves, or perhaps our children, engage in competitive sports, we can easily get drawn into the urge to pray to God so “we can win!” But, we will do better in our prayer journey if we resist praying to win, and instead pray for the safety of the players, fair competition, and good sportsmanship.
It is in those times that I am reminded of a word of warning from the Apostle Paul about competition:
“Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown, except by competing according to the rules” (2 Timothy 2.5, NIV).
The Apostle Paul’s encouragement to us is a reminder that we ought not to think of ourselves as better than anyone else, especially on the basketball court. What would it say about us if we gloat after a win, “God answered our prayers to beat you!”? You can easily see how that type of attitude doesn’t fit with the overall Biblical message of grace and mercy.
Let these 10 easy prayers for a basketball game help you. The different scenarios offered in the following prayers allow you to choose which one best suits your situation. Of course, you can modify the wording of any of the prayers as needed to fit your circumstances
We encourage you to explore other prayers on this site, whether you are a regular prayer, or just beginning to learn to pray. You might benefit from prayers for school activities, prayers for competition, or even prayers for different sports like football, hockey, and baseball. One of the main purposes of this website is to help you grow closer to God through prayer.
So, as you pray for a basketball game, keep your focus on God, to whom you are praying. Let your mind and heart rest in the knowledge that God knows what is happening and hears you. We encourage you to share your prayer journey with us in the comments section below.
Short Prayer For A Basketball Game
Lord God, I want us to win today, but mostly I want us to play as a team and do our best. How we play today on the basketball court will say a lot about who we are as people. I pray that we are free from injury and put all of our practice to work on the court. I ask this through Jesus Christ, Amen.
Team Prayer Before A Women’s Basketball Game
Dear God, we are all here together in this locker room as we are about to go play a very important basketball game.
On behalf of us all young women, I pray for each of us to do our job and play to the best of our ability. Win or lose, let us be strong in how we support each other on every play, up and down the court.
I pray for our safety and for the other team as well. I pray for the refs to call a clean and fair game.
I pray we go out and play as a united team, and let us not give up, give in, or give out. I thank you for the opportunity we have to play basketball. May we play all out tonight. In the name of Jesus, I pray this prayer, Amen.
Public Prayer Before A Basketball Game
Dear God, as we gather for tonight’s basketball game, we stop to acknowledge you as God. We ask for every player on both teams to compete with their full effort and with sincere sportsmanship.
We pray for everyone’s safety and for both teams, and the fans to exhibit good sportsmanship, on the court and in the stands.
While we have the home court advantage, we pray that everyone will know they did their very best in the spirit of good competition. Thank you for the support of the school administration, and this entire community. On behalf of everyone gathered here, I make this prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Team Prayer Before A Men’s Basketball Game
God in heaven, I’ve been asked to pray on behalf of our team before this basketball game. I pray that we go out on that court and play the best game we’ve ever played. This is for a chance to get into the playoffs, so I ask that you help us, individually, and as a team, to lift ourselves to that level.
I pray for the refs to call a good game. I pray for our coaches to guide us in using the best strategy on offense and defense. I pray for our safety, and that no one gets injured on either team. I don’t know how this game will end, but I want this team to know when the game is over that we did our best. In the name of Jesus, I pray, Amen.
Prayer By A Basketball Coach After a Game
God, I am not sure what to pray right now. I am so emotionally spent I can barely think straight.
We lost a very important basketball game tonight. I really thought we had a chance to win, right up to the last shot. I usually know what to say to these guys after a game, but tonight I had nothing really. The disappointment in the locker room was heavy.
I pray for each of the players, that they can absorb this loss but not dwell on it, or brood over it. I pray for all the fans that they have the maturity to see this as a competition we didn’t win this time. I pray they don’t make nasty comments about the players, or me, for that matter.
This is a tight-knit community, Lord, so I ask that we all come together and get back up and prepare for our next game with class and heads held high. Help me get the rest I need tonight in order to be ready for the team next week. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Prayer By A Parent Watching A High School Basketball Game
Dear Lord, I am praying for my daughter who is playing in her first season of high school basketball. She has practiced all summer to try and get her skills up to this level, and now she gets to actually play!
I pray for her to do well and show the coach that she deserves to play her position. I pray she helps her team play to their very best and that she doesn’t get injured. I am so proud of her–I hope I don’t embarrass her with all of my cheering for her tonight.
Help me keep my nerves under control as I watch my baby play, now that she is such a grownup young woman. Thank you for her, and her life, Lord. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.
Prayer By A Player Before A Basketball Game
Father God, I was just told by my basketball coach that I am getting to start at the game tonight. I am thrilled with this opportunity, yet I am also kind of anxious because I don’t want to waste this chance.
I have been doing extra practice and taking extra shots to improve my game. I want to show my coach, and really myself, that I have actually gotten better. I guess there is no better opportunity than a game against an opponent.
Help me to be safe and do my best. I want to be a good teammate and help the team compete well. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Prayer By A Player After A Basketball Game
God, we won! I know we all prayed for us to do our best on the court, and it turns out we all played amazing! I am so happy that we won!
It was thrilling to watch each player play up to a higher level on the court. Shots were falling and rebounds were being grabbed. Our defense was smothering and no one got hurt. God, it was like a perfect basketball game for us.
I hope we can enjoy this win fully and then prepare for the next game. Help us grab hold of the reality that we all can play better than we think we can. Thank you for a great night, Lord. In the name of Jesus, I make this prayer, Amen.
Prayer For Basketball Coaches
Dear Lord God, I pray for our basketball coaches, both the girl’s and boy’s coaches. They already carry a full load teaching each week in school and now they give up several nights a week and part of their weekend to coach these young students.
I pray for them to receive encouragement from their player and this community. Help them see the bigger picture beyond just wins and losses, to the shaping they are doing of these kids. I pray for their mindset and for their strength and their rest. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Halftime Prayer At a Basketball Game
Dear God, I’m asking you to enter into our reality right now. As a team, we are not in a good mindset. We are so far behind that I am afraid we have all given up.
I pray that we go out in the second half and play like we are here to win, not simply to not get beat by a lot of points. Help us to take pride in ourselves and in our team. I don’t care whether we win, but I don’t want us to just lay down on the court because we’re losing. I pray this in the name of Jesus, Amen.
Final Thoughts
Basketball is a fun sport to watch and to play. Everything is contained in such a small court and there is constant action, back and forth.
With the ebb and flow of the game, we can get taken in by the high emotion of competition. We need to remember that we, as followers of Jesus, serve a higher purpose, as the Apostle Paul reminds us:
“Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.” (Colossians 3.23, NLT).
So, when you are on the court, or in the stands, as a player or coach, parent or fan, may we all keep this verse in mind as we play, coach, and cheer our basketball team of choice.