Pastor Kurt Trempert is one of the longest standing volunteer chaplains for Soccer Chaplains United and he serves the Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, a team that plays in the the USL-Championship, the second division of professional soccer in the U.S. The Switchbacks are an affiliate for the Colorado Rapids and so there is often a shuttling back and forth of players on loan between the two clubs, situated about an hour and half drive down Interstate-25. This year, Kurt enters into his seventh season as volunteer chaplain. He joins me, Rev Brad Kenney, on the From the Touchline podcast today ahead of the team's grand home opener this week (Friday) and the brand-new Weidner Field located in downtown Colorado Springs.

Jubal McDaniel serves as volunteer chaplain for the Tacoma Defiance, a team that plays in the second division of professional soccer in the U.S., the USL-Championship. This year, Jubal enters into his first full season as chaplain. He joins Rev Brad Kenney on the From the Touchline podcast today ahead of the team's home opener to talk a little bit about what makes Tacoma "defiant" and how the team is doing just one game into the season. From the Touchline is a short-feature (usually 10-15 min) podcast with Rev Brad Kenney, Founder and Executive Director of Soccer Chaplains United and Volunteer Chaplain to the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer. Rev Brad and occasional guests touch on various issues around

Jubal McDaniel serves as the Volunteer Chaplain to the Tacoma Defiance (USL-Championship) in Tacoma, WA. With a late-2020 placement and that coming in the middle of a pandemic, his first steps to serve the Defiance were put on hold as the team ended the 2020 campaign. The door was opened; however, for Jubal to get a brief introduction to the team via Zoom with two weeks remaining in the season. But, as is the case in USL, there is frequently a lot of change. The head manager moved on to a new opportunity, several athletes moved to other teams around the country and, in many ways, 2021 would be a bit of a re-start. With the 2021 season quickly approaching,

Sunday, April 18, 2021 — just a year on from the outset of the global pandemic, 12 elite, European football (soccer) clubs announce intentions to break ranks with UEFA and form their own Super League, as founding members. The announcement sent shockwaves throughout the football world and with great calamity and unforeseen ramifications. From media journalists, pundits, ardent supporters and fans, as well as other football clubs — a cry arose. "Foul!" And a deadly spiral leading to ugly fan protests which culminated in the past weekend with the Manchester United fixture against Liverpool postponed due to violence and supporters who stormed the grounds of Old Trafford in a voice against club ownership and this deep, deep sense of betrayal. Today,

As the United Soccer League (USL) starts to ramp up its season this weekend, soccer across North America will finally be in full-swing. The USL manages the lower divisions of professional soccer in the U.S. and Canada and has many teams in smaller cities and markets. USL-Championship is the top tier of soccer below Major League Soccer (MLS). Today, on the From the Touchline podcast, Rev Brad is joined by 5 different USL-C chaplains! Robert Briggs, chaplain of Sacramento Republic; Greg Aydt, chaplain to Memphis 901 FC; Kurt Trempert, chaplain to Colorado Springs Switchbacks; Jubal McDaniel, chaplain to the Tacoma Defiance; and Erick Jiménez, chaplain to El Paso Locomotives FC are all on the podcast. Each chaplain shares a little