From the Touchline

Rev Brad reflects on the news of the NASL shutting down for the 2018 season and how displaced people are often found in soccer, the world, and in the Bible.  Inquiries and feedback can be sent to  podcast@soccerchaplainsunited.org . From the Touchline is a short-feature (10 min) podcast with Rev Brad Kenney and occasional guests touching on various issues around faith, family, and f...

Rev Brad shares a reflection on a powerful quote from one of the Christian, Desert Mothers. Great athletes have to contend with powerful enemies. What enemy do you contend with? Inquiries and feedback can be sent to  podcast@soccerchaplainsunited.org . From the Touchline is a short-feature (10 min) podcast with Rev Brad Kenney and occasional guests touching on various issues around faith, fam...

Rev Brad checks in on how Lent is going, shares some reflections from last year’s journey through changing to a vegan diet, and confesses his own inability to play “Barbie” Dolls.  Inquiries and feedback can be sent to  podcast@soccerchaplainsunited.org . From the Touchline is a short-feature (10 min) podcast with Rev Brad Kenney and occasional guests touching on v...

Rev Brad Kenney, shares some insight into the life of Saint Colmán of Lindisfarne and reflections on the nature of lifes “breakups.” Included is a reading of the Colman liturgy or prayer that might be said or prayed (or listened to) when faced with a job dismissal or a relationship breakup or ending. Inquiries and feedback can be sent to  podcast@soccerchaplainsunited.org . From t...

In this episode of  From the Touchline , Colorado Rapids Chaplain Rev Brad Kenney shares about Ash Wednesday. Inquiries and feedback can be sent to  podcast@soccerchaplainsunited.org . From the Touchline is a short-feature (10 min) podcast with Rev Brad Kenney and occasional guests touching on various issues around faith, family, and football. Check out the Soccer Chaplains United A...

I had the privilege of spending part of last week in Nashville. The primary purpose of the trip was to do some training and coaching with our chaplain candidate who will serve Nashville SC this upcoming year. We’re not quite ready to announce who the chaplain is, but we will within the next few weeks as we complete the process. I pose pre-game for a photo in wet Nashville with Assistant Coac...

Rev Brad Kenney, Volunteer Chaplain of the Colorado Rapids and Director of Soccer Chaplains United, shares about the purpose and intent behind the podcast,  From the Touchline .  Inquiries and feedback can be sent to podcast@soccerchaplainsunited.org . From the Touchline is a short-feature (10 min) podcast with Rev Brad Kenney and occasional guests touching on various issues around...

There are times when a chaplain may not be able to be present to pray for a person — whether an athlete is about to go through surgery, about to board a plane, after just getting some bad news, or even winning the big game. These prayers are written and recorded with the football (soccer) athlete, coach/manager, staff member, and family member in mind. They are prayed in the spirit of reminding yo...

In football, it can be a tremendous challenge to break into the starting eleven. A footballer works to ascend the ladder — from academy and youth club to the reserve squad to the first team. And then, there comes that moment, the manger looks down the bench. What happens though, when the game suddenly changes and you are sent back to the bench? What happens if the manager always seems to look...

A concussion can spell the end — for a footballer’s game, season, or career. Concussions aren’t just a concern for athletes in American Football, but soccer as well. It can be a shaking time for an athlete because there may not be a clear pathway forward, a lot is at stake. This is a simple prayer from an athlete who has experienced a concussion or concussion symptoms. There may be que...

Some injuries in football (soccer) require surgery. It may be that someone’s season is over or that someone’s career is over. It can be that someone is facing surgery for the first time or for, yet, another time. No matter the situation and circumstance, surgery is difficult for those in football and there is often much at stake — one’s contract, one’s livelihood, or s...

In many places around the world, if a football club or team is relegated to a lower division, it can be devastating on many levels — for a community, for those that work in the team’s front offices, and it can be disheartening for the fans, athletes, manger, and others. On the outside looking in, it may not seem that big of a deal, but it can have tremendous impact into the daily lives of pe...

Perhaps you are about to get on a bus or a plane for the next match or to join a new team. Maybe you have a fear of flying, or you cannot rest on the long bus ride, or maybe there is a spiritual or emotional uncertainty as you leave. You leave behind familiarity, family, or something else for a new place, a new challenge — you may feel that you are ready, you may feel that you are not — ...

Goals and goal setting is important in sports — for an individual and for a team. Sometimes certain goals are in conflict between an individual athlete and between the team. Sometimes a team or club might take steps to mitigate an individual’s goals to avoid a payout. Sometimes an individual athlete might selfishly put their own interests in front of what might be best for the team in a part...

Algunas lesiones en el futbol requieren de cirugía. Puede ser que la temporada de alguien se termino o que la carrera de alguien se terminó. Puede ser que alguien está enfrentando cirugía por primera vez, o tal vez, otra vez. No importa cuál sea la situación o circunstancia, la cirugía es difícil para quienes esta en el futbol y siempre hay mucho que perder – el contrato, salario, o algo más...

Una lesión puede ser devastadora – especialmente para un jugador de futbol estrella. Puede que no sea una lesión “seria” – aun una leve lesión o torcedura de un musculo puede causar una exclusión de jugar o ser puesto fuera de los planes del equipo. Una pequeña insignificante lesión puede ser decisiva –  sabemos que un atleta “lucha para estar saludable” o si alguien tiene problemas par...

Trades can be a blessing and a burden, it can mean saying goodbyes and hellos, it can be exchanging familiarity for uncertainty, it may be desired or undesired — all in the same moment. A new team, a new opportunity, a new challenge, but also it can mean leaving family, teammates, home, or a city and club that has been comfortable, friendly and familiar. This prayer is for the one who has just lea...

It is a unique time and space to be at the beginning of the construction of a new stadium ground or participating in a new football club being built up or commissioned. Because of the long-time popularity of the sport, many teams around the world have an old and storied history — but there are times when a club sees a new day. It might be when a new ownership group takes over. It might be in the a...

An injury can be devastating — especially for an elite, professional footballer. It may not be a “serious” injury — even a slight strain or tweak of a muscle can mean exclusion from playing of being put outside of the team’s plans. And small, niggling injuries can be deciders — word gets out that an athlete “struggles to stay healthy” or that one has a “pro...

There are times in an athlete, coach, staff, or even a family member’s life when complacency can set in. We can struggle to think that we need to improve or we can avoid or complain critique. There is sometimes a need to break out of the mold of the past and continue working on our selves — and this is best done, aided by God and in the midst of healthy community. This prayer is a praye...

Athletes know mentality is critical, especially, at elite level of sport. Having the right mentality is key. What do you do to stay focused? How does one keep a mindset of peace? Whether it is the worry and stress of earning the next contract, or winning a starting role in the first eleven, or performing well in a game — there is a lot of pressure that can be on a person in football. This doesn&#8...

It is probably too much to say that the goalkeeper in football (soccer) is the most important position on the team, but it certainly is the most unique position. Of the 11 players on the field for a team, the goalkeeper (GK) is the only one who can legally use his hands to defend the goal. It is often said that GK’s are “crazy” or “a different breed.” But certainly, a...

Coming home — whether it be from a match, a season, a trial or tryout — can bring with it a mix of emotions. If we have been successful in our away endeavors, a return home can be a celebration, a glorious moment. If we have had a loss or if our contract has been terminated, retuning home can be difficult — we feel defeated, deflated. Sometimes a win is not all that it may seem to b...

Addiction is a fierce reality when it comes to sport — it may be an addiction to things intended to be helpful (like medicines used to alleviate pain and promote healing) or addictions to hurtful things (like alcohol or drugs, sex or pornography). But there can also be unhealthy addictions to some of the unseen things that sport, especially football (soccer), seems to provide, like power, pre...

There is perhaps no one else within football, that has as important a role or with whom it is necessary to earn and maintain trust as the athletic trainer or phyiso. It is this role which keeps the athlete fit and healthy. It is the trainer who often takes up the mantle of helping an athlete continue on a path toward recovery after a surgery or struggling through a particular type of injury or str...