Athletes are instructed on where to focus their eyes. “Keep your eyes on the ball . . . Keep your eyes on the player’s midsection . . . Keep your eyes on the hoop when shooting . . . Keep your eyes on the finish line . . .”

NFL star receiver Steve Largent was once asked what he kept his eyes on when a quarterback threw the ball. Largent said he looked at the cross-hairs. While it is next to impossible to look at the cross seams of a football coming at you at that speed, it showed Largent’s focus.

Homecoming week can strike fear into the heart of a coach. There’s the dance, the pep assembly, the class competitions and, of course, the game, which is often the last to be mentioned. Although our players know better, all the festivities can distract them. It’s a challenge to help them stay focused and arrive at the game ready to play. I admit, some seasons it causes me not to see straight.

Coaches want to be able to tell athletes exactly what they want done, and they want to have the confidence in their players that the job will get done. Coaches want to know that they can tell an athlete to do something and then know that it will be done.

Athletes want coaches to be direct. They want to know what play to run. Athletes want to know what the coach wants, they don't want surprises. Knowing exactly what is expected of them is how an athlete is able to focus on what they have to do.

David gave Solomon this kind of direction in 1 Kings. David knew his time on earth was almost up. He knew that Solomon would need to focus in order to prepare for what was coming. David gave Solomon very direct expectations for his life.