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 strain. The athletic trainer also cooperates to promote and cultivate prevention of physical injury. This prayer is a blessing for the hands of the trainer. It is a prayer of blessing that a chaplain might pray over a trainer at the start of a season or

Today marks my third trip this year to work with our Soccer United Chaplains that are spread throughout the United States. I head to McAllen, Texas to spend a couple of days with our newest chaplain, Isidro Piña, to the Rio Grande Valley Toros FC who play in the United Soccer League. Earlier this year, I spent a few days in Nashville and utilized the first-ever match for Nashville SC (a pre-season match) to do work with our new chaplain there. I also spent a day in Chicago with our chaplain for Moody Bible Institute before heading to Charlotte and using the first match of the season to do some work with our chaplain to the Independence. Why travel? As

It's my pleasure to announce that Alex Avila has joined the Soccer Chaplains United Board of Directors. Alex brings a wealth of knowledge and experience as a counselor in the South-metro Denver-area. As the founder and director of the Relationship Institute of the Rockies, he has a vision and a passion for seeing people overcome personal challenges around counseling in order to get the help they need. When I asked him what he is looking forward to most with joining the board, Alex shared, I am excited to help break down barriers and stigmas and to help Soccer Chaplains United and everyone they serve improve mental health and relationships. Alex's appointment to the Board of Directors will help Soccer Chaplains

Rev Brad Kenney looks briefly at the life of Saint Brendan the Navigator. Brendan's life was one spent exploring the world that God was sending he and others out into, but Brendan begins his journey on top of a mountain praying, to discern if God is really calling him into this amazing journey. Maybe God is calling you to something amazing. Maybe you need to get away to a mountaintop to pray. Rev Brad also reads a portion of Brendan's mountaintop prayer from Celtic Daily Prayer. 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

We are pleased to announce the addition of a chaplain to serve the Rio Grande Valley Toros FC of McAllen, Texas. Isidro Piña, a local minister in the Edinburg/McAllen, Texas area, has been patiently waiting for the chaplaincy opportunity to develop. We met Isidro, last August, and began a conversation about possibly serving the club. Isidro becomes the 11th chaplain to serve with Soccer Chaplains United and came via a recommendation from Chaplain Cesar Duran. You can read more about Isidro on his bio page here. Isidro will work to develop relationships and trust in this new role. When I asked him to say something about coming onto Soccer Chaplains United, he shared the following: I felt privileged when I