Football has had a hybrid approach since 1946. So what can the church learn from this?

Hybrid-church has become the hot new phrase, coined out of necessity during COVID-19, but in reality, English football has had a hybrid approach since 1946, so what can we learn from 74 years of hybrid-football?

Firstly, what do I mean by hybrid? I mean something that has one foot in physical and one foot in digital. At times you may be physically present, at others you might be digitally present, it’s neither fully one or fully the other. It takes the best from both worlds and brings them together to make it possible to be involved whether you are present physically or not.

What does hybrid-football look like?

After watching the FA Cup final at the weekend (which was devoid of the presence of fans) I came to the startling realisation that football is hybrid and has been for decades. So I began to list the ways in which we’ve come to accept hybrid-football as a very normal activity, and how fans are now involved in various ways without anyone really thinking about how normal it has become.

A World Cup Fanzone

1. Watch in-person, in the stadium — book a ticket and travel.
2. Watch by yourself at home on TV or device — book a subscription or tune in.
3. Watch with family or friends in a home — invite people round, organise a party or plan it in with your family.
4. Watch in a pub or fan zone, with dozens or hundreds of others — Text some friends and meet up at a pub to watch together.
5. Listen along on the radio — switch on the radio whilst driving or doing something else to be involved live.
6. Check scores on your phone, teletext, website, app (maybe whilst at a wedding…possibly…so I’ve heard…from a friend) — easily download an app or check updates on a website.
7. Watch highlights on Match of the Day or YouTube — tune in on-demand or at a set time to watch highlights.
8. Live updates on social media — follow the club on social and refresh your feed for score updates.

Some of these don’t require the Football Club to facilitate logistics but, instead, place responsibility in the hands of the fan to motivate themselves to engage. All are valid ways of being a football fan and practiced by millions around the world.

Late night buses make attending matches possible

In-person will always be better for some

Of course, for many people ‘in-person’ is the best experience, the atmosphere, the thrill of being there, joining in with the singing, celebrating the goals, punching the air, leaping around in the stands and hugging strangers (hilariously it’s so similar to a church service). But take it from someone who has had to take two days off work to attend a Champions League match in North London, then missed the final train back to Cardiff and not arrived home until after 3am (having paid for train tickets, match tickets, London priced beer, then an emergency coach ticket home) sometimes watching on TV, is a kinder experience and works more easily around a busy lifestyle.

How has football honed the hybrid approach?

So how does this translate to what hybrid church could learn? Well, with any future blended models, we always need to ask the question: how does this seamlessly work with online and physical?

Football clubs and media outlets have honed this process over the last 60+ years (so that takes the pressure off churches to have the answers this month!), the ability to give you the experience of being there, but having news, updates, stats, behind-the-scenes knowledge that you don’t get in-person. Which gives you an advantage in watching from home.

The number of times I’ve had a text message off my brother, who’s sat behind the goal at the Tottenham Stadium asking if it really was a penalty/offside/yellow card? Because the replays are limited during a match. TV companies have understood that in order to engage you, you can’t just have a live stream of the match. You need added content, that puts you in the thick of the experience and keeps your attention.

VAR: In the stadium, you’re left waiting and guessing. On TV you get numerous angles and replays to keep you informed.

Some of the bonus content you get by tuning in on TV includes:

• On-screen added content — visuals, information, stats, updates
• Further explanations about what you’ve just seen, provided by the commentators. Which you normally chat about with those in the seats around you at a match.
• Looking back at previous matches and how this provides context for this match.
• Looking forward to future matches and the importance of this match.
• Insights from ex-players, managers, current players and professionals.
• In-match analysis, replays and replaying the highlights to allow you to digest them instantly.
• Half-time punditry — whilst everyone in the stadium heads for a quick beer and toilet break.

So what might we need to consider for churches? Firstly, how do you translate this to church and what are some of the options available to us?

1. W̵a̵t̵c̵h̵ ̵i̵n̵-̵p̵e̵r̵s̵o̵n̵,̵ ̵i̵n̵ ̵t̵h̵e̵ ̵s̵t̵a̵d̵i̵u̵m̵.̵ Watch in a physical church building.
2. ̵W̵a̵t̵c̵h̵ ̵b̵y̵ ̵y̵o̵u̵r̵s̵e̵l̵f̵ ̵a̵t̵ ̵h̵o̵m̵e̵ ̵o̵n̵ ̵T̵V̵ ̵o̵r̵ ̵d̵e̵v̵i̵c̵e̵.̵ Stream at home on TV or a device.
3. ̵W̵a̵t̵c̵h̵ ̵w̵i̵t̵h̵ ̵f̵a̵m̵i̵l̵y̵ ̵o̵r̵ ̵f̵r̵i̵e̵n̵d̵s̵ ̵i̵n̵ ̵a̵ ̵h̵o̵m̵e̵.̵ Worship with family and friends at home.
4. ̵W̵a̵t̵c̵h̵ ̵i̵n̵ ̵a̵ ̵p̵u̵b̵ ̵o̵r̵ ̵f̵a̵n̵ ̵z̵o̵n̵e̵,̵ ̵w̵i̵t̵h̵ ̵d̵o̵z̵e̵n̵s̵ ̵o̵r̵ ̵h̵u̵n̵d̵r̵e̵d̵s̵ ̵o̵f̵ ̵o̵t̵h̵e̵r̵s̵.̵Have watch parties: worship in pubs, bars, cinemas, schools, hotels and other venues where you can engage with others.
5. ̵L̵i̵s̵t̵e̵n̵ ̵a̵l̵o̵n̵g̵ ̵o̵n̵ ̵t̵h̵e̵ ̵r̵a̵d̵i̵o̵.̵ Have a live audio feed or full podcast available.
6. ̵C̵h̵e̵c̵k̵ ̵s̵c̵o̵r̵e̵s̵ ̵o̵n̵ ̵y̵o̵u̵r̵ ̵p̵h̵o̵n̵e̵,̵ ̵t̵e̵l̵e̵t̵e̵x̵t̵,̵ ̵w̵e̵b̵s̵i̵t̵e̵,̵ ̵a̵p̵p̵ ̵(̵m̵a̵y̵b̵e̵ ̵w̵h̵i̵l̵s̵t̵ ̵a̵t̵ ̵a̵ ̵w̵e̵d̵d̵i̵n̵g̵…̵p̵o̵s̵s̵i̵b̵l̵y̵…̵s̵o̵ ̵I̵’̵v̵e̵ ̵h̵e̵a̵r̵d̵…̵f̵r̵o̵m̵ ̵a̵ ̵f̵r̵i̵e̵n̵d̵)̵.̵ A Church app and intuitive website, allowing engagement whilst on the move.
7. ̵W̵a̵t̵c̵h̵ ̵h̵i̵g̵h̵l̵i̵g̵h̵t̵s̵ ̵o̵n̵ ̵M̵a̵t̵c̵h̵ ̵o̵f̵ ̵t̵h̵e̵ ̵D̵a̵y̵ ̵o̵r̵ ̵Y̵o̵u̵T̵u̵b̵e̵.̵ Short-format content available on YouTube and social media, with highlights from your services.
8. L̵i̵v̵e̵ ̵u̵p̵d̵a̵t̵e̵s̵ ̵o̵n̵ ̵s̵o̵c̵i̵a̵l̵ ̵m̵e̵d̵i̵a̵ Live updates on social media.

Something I’ve referenced numerous times is ‘TV screen discipline is very different from in-person discipline.’ We can’t expect people to respond digitally how they respond in-person.

The need for digital engagement might be driven by a myriad of reasons, including, but not limited to:

• Disability / vulnerability / health
• Shift patterns
• Personal preference
• Family
• Time-poor
• Inability to travel

Churches need to start moving towards making hybrid-church a positive experience, recognising that we all have limitations of time, energy and money, however, this is a season of creativity and innovation and there may be some breakthroughs that Jesus can help you with in this season.

This might make it possible for your digital experience to be enhanced for those who cannot or will not attend a physical gathering (ever or at present).

In-person will always carry something significant because we were made for human interaction, but we also need to see what hybrid might make possible for our churches, for those exploring faith, for assimilation, for discipleship, for evangelism, and for community.

Jesus has been building his church for over 2,000 years and he continues to do so. This is an exciting season for the church, despite the many and complicated challenges we face, let’s not forget that this is Jesus’ church.

I flicked to the back of the Bible the other day and it was good to be reminded of how it all ends. So be kind to yourself as you explore what digital makes possible and what Jesus might have for you and your context.

If you found this helpful, you might also find my book helpful: ‘ So Everyone Can Hear: Communicating Church In A Digital Culture’ Available here, published by SPCK.