Inner LifeSpiritual Direction

For the sports world

A deeper relationship with God — right where you are.

Inner Life Spiritual Direction is for anyone inside competitive sports — player, coach, trainer, staff, or administrator — who longs to draw closer to God. This isn't about life after the game or transitioning out of a career; it's about meeting you exactly where you are now.

Reverend Ryan Irmer, smiling, in a blue collared shirt.

Twelve years on the sideline before twelve years in ministry.

I coached basketball from 1999 to 2011 — high school, community college, and NCAA Division II — recruiting, fundraising, and living the same calendar you live. I know the travel, the scrutiny, and how little room there is inside a season to say what you are actually carrying.

That is the room this practice makes. No performance review, no film session. Just a confidential hour with someone who has been in the building.

It can help with

  • Identity and purpose — your true self and potential, and a deeper connection with God.
  • Change — a trade, a marriage, a divorce, having children, a new role or season.
  • The everyday — finding God in the ordinary aspects of life.
  • Loss — a family member or friend, your health, or dealing positively with obstacles, setbacks, or disappointment.
  • Awareness — recognizing and celebrating where God is already at work in your life.
  • Discernment — gaining clarity, working through hard decisions, and finding how to thrive.
Four young athletes standing shoulder to shoulder, looking ahead.
Photo by Vecteezy

For coaches, staff, and athletic departments

Whole-person support helps everyone in a program thrive.

Founded by a pastor who spent twelve years coaching, recruiting, and fundraising in basketball at high schools, colleges, and universities, Inner Life partners with teams, chaplains, and athlete-care staff to offer confidential spiritual direction as part of your wellbeing resources — for individuals, small groups, or a visit to speak with your team.

Sessions work around the season: about an hour, In Person or via Zoom, even when games come every other day.