From the Touchline

There’s often a choice facing a coach prior to match day — do we play our game, or do we adapt and change because of the opponent we’re facing or the situation and circumstances? Most would say a team ought to play to their strengths and just be themselves. But how do we cope when that isn’t going to be best choice due to factors outside of our control? Today, on the podcast, I r...

I once had a coach say to me, “I guess chaplains are just there for when things go wrong…” I lament that my apologetic for soccer chaplaincy and our conversation had led him to that conclusion. It’s a common myth, though, that chaplains are only there for people when bad stuff happens. Of course, we think of the hospital or hospice moment when someone is sick, injured, or d...

Sometimes people ask me, “Rev, do you pray for wins? ” What usually follows is, at least for me, an interesting conversation if we have the time to get into it. But a common myth or belief that chaplains (or, simply, Christian people who enjoy sports) can fall prey to, is believing that somehow one’s prayers or faith can impact and affect the outcome of a game. Today, on the podc...

Much of my work outside of being the lead volunteer chaplain to the Colorado Rapids is working to develop chaplaincy with other teams in North America. This involves educating teams on what chaplaincy is and what chaplaincy isn’t. As I have different conversations and interactions with coaches, executives, and owners around the various leagues, one common excuse or myth that I hear is, &#822...

Sometimes when I introduce myself and share about the work that I do as volunteer chaplain to a professional soccer team, people don’t even stop to ask. Instead, they just say, “Oh, you must have played soccer at a high level…” Well, truth be told, I was never going to rise to such a level as an athlete. Funny enough, though, there are some that believe former pro soccer pl...

So much soccer is happening this summer, and much of it has an international flavor and a unique sense of competition — whether we’re talking about the Euros, Copa America, the Olympics, or Leagues Cup — the opportunity to watch the teams and athletes on these varied and different stages represents something different and unique from the typical league matches that happen week in and week ou...

I shared, last week, a reflection from a recent family vacation to Yellowstone National Park. This week, another reflection from my time there and this time it has to do with the wildness that we encountered there. It might seem a far stretch to speak about wildness and connect it somehow into faith and football, but if you saw the scenes from the Copa America Final in Miami, maybe not so much so....

A return from family vacation last week to Yellowstone National Park has been reflecting on a couple of things. Perhaps, the greatest takeaway is that I imagine that Yellowstone is something like Heaven — indescribable, unimaginable, and more. Even like certain elements of the Beautiful Game — there is just a limit to how much one can describe or explain, it is something that must be experienced!...

One of the headlines that is seemingly more and more fused with football is the issue of politics. A few weeks ago, high profile players came out and urged young people in their nation to get out and vote. Around the world, there has been a rise of the “activist super-player” who seemingly has more pull and sway than some politicians. Today, on the podcast, in the amount of time that a...

Currently, in the U.S., there are two days set aside for recognizing freedom: Juneteenth (June 19) and July 4th. One celebrates a freedom fought for and won from British colonialism, the other celebrates the eventual and final execution of a proclamation of freedom. Today, on the podcast, in the time that a team might have for a halftime team talk, I discuss the differences between these two days...

Today on the podcast, it is part 2 of my conversation with Jordan Medas. Jordan serves as a volunteer chaplain with Soccer Chaplains United and as the East Coast Chaplain Manager. Jordan and I continue our reflections about the 2022 Men’s World Cup Devotional and the subsequent (2024) revision, The Light is Coming . Jordan and I both served as authors for this 8-week devotional which combine...

Today on the podcast, I am joined by Jordan Medas. Jordan is a volunteer chaplain with Soccer Chaplains United and he serves as the East Coast Chaplain Manager. Jordan’s first time on the podcast, we take a little bit of time to get to know him better and understand his story of coming to serve with Soccer Chaplains United. Jordan and I also take a look back at the 2022 Men’s World Cup...

Jubal McDaniel joins me today for part 2 of our June Soccer series. Jubal is the volunteer chaplain for the Tacoma Defiance and serves as the Soccer Chaplains United Pacific Coast Chaplain Manager and our conversation has centered around the two devotional books that we worked on — for the recent World Cups and the subsequent revisions. June 2024 marks our release of the revision of last year&#821...

June is the start of a very busy soccer season — international friendlies, the Euros, readying for the summer Olympics, as well as the various leagues throughout the U.S. Today on the podcast, I am joined by Jubal McDaniel. Jubal is the volunteer chaplain for the Tacoma Defiance and serves as the Soccer Chaplains United Pacific Coast Chaplain Manager. Jubal and I take a look back at the devotional...

Perhaps one of the most difficult, anxiety-producing spaces for us in life is trying to make decisions about the future — how do we know where to go, what to do, what choice to make? What is the will of God for our life? With the end of the month of May and this being “Mental Health Awareness” Month, we are in a series which is exploring how Christian faith addresses mental health. Today we look a...

Today’s podcast is part 2 of an interview with the Founder and Director of the Rocky Mountain Sports Counseling Center, Brooke Ewert. Brooke formerly led Soccer Chaplains United’s counseling efforts, but has since turned her attention to growing RMSCC and her counseling team who serve athletes of all levels. The Rocky Mountain Sports Counseling Center is a place we often make referrals...

Founder and Director of the Rocky Mountain Sports Counseling Center, Brooke Ewert, is a guest on the podcast today. During the month of May, we’ve been examining faith as helping someone’s mental health. Brooke, formerly was part of Soccer Chaplains United and oversaw a number of counselors that were serving and supporting soccer teams and soccer athletes. The Rocky Mountain Sports Cou...

The month of May is “Mental Health Awareness” Month and we are in a series which is exploring how Christian faith addresses mental health. Today’s podcast, Paul’s letter to Christian believers in Philippi gets our attention and we examine his exhortations to pray, to focus our minds, and to put things into practice. In the midst of these invitations to participate and effectively live...

Today is May 1, “May Day.” Not only is it a day of political and religious significance, the phrase itself is a radio term designed to signal distress. If you don’t know, the month of May in the United States is known as “Mental Health Awareness” Month, so for the next few weeks we are going to take a look at the topic of mental health and, specifically, how Christian faith addre...

Well, we’ve come to the end. The final podcast in our Lesson from Lasso series and we talk about how we can have comforting company in the midst of sadness. In today’s Lesson From Lasso , we watch as Coach Ted Lasso comforts the team after the season-ending loss which will see AFC Richmond miss out on staying in the Premier League and will go down due to relegation rules. There is sadn...

In football, soccer, many fans whose favorite teams are in the throes of relegation and promotion or playoffs, have their hopes dashed and come crashing to the ground. When the team doesn’t have a good season, there are consequences for going down into an inferior tier of soccer. When a team doesn’t produce any winners or any trophies, there are consequences for everyone involved. In t...

There’s actually a number of reasons for Roy Kent to struggle to love Coach Ted Lasso. And maybe this is even the case for some of us when it comes to loving God. There’s likely things that have happened to us in life. There are hard things that God asks us to do. These are challenges in our relationship with God and even with ourselves. In today’s Lesson From Lasso , we look at...

Ritual is rare in the Western culture and context and while there are things that are unique and specific to football, not even in the Beautiful Game are many times where rites of passage are happening, or are happening well. In today’s Lesson From Lasso , we look at Nate ascending from kit-man or clubhouse attendant to the role of assistant coach. The ceremony and celebration and elevation...

It’s Holy Week, and in years past I’ve spoken on the podcast about “Spy Wednesday” and the devious and dubious work of Judas to set up the betrayal of Jesus. But this year, I want to give a different view to the day/night and see what is happening to Jesus. In fact, this particular moment may have been the “last straw” for Judas and prompted him to sell out Jesu...

Who doesn’t love a good victory parade? The music, the ticker tape, all of it — no matter the sport, fans and followers seem to enjoy celebrating alongside their sports heroes a good victory. In soccer, the same is true. But for Christians, as we approach this upcoming Sunday (Palm Sunday), it’s a victory celebration that doesn’t last long (at first glance). Today on the podcast,...