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Right now, if you’re like me, you’re probably tired of all things Coronavirus — it can feel consuming, depressing, and more. Even as things in the U.S. begin to re-open and start to phase a return, there are likely still a lot of questions that are in your heart and mind — will school happen in the fall? Will sports resume? What will life look like on the other side? In today's From the Touchline episode, I want to introduce a woman to you, with that hope that from her story we might gain some encouragement and strength to persevere through this global pandemic time. We may live in different parts of the world and our governments and health officials and

Alex Avila recently told us that he would not seek to renew his term on the Soccer Chaplains United Board of Directors. For the past two years, Alex has been instrumental in being a guiding voice and advocate for the counseling aspects of the ministry and work of Soccer Chaplains United. Alex steps aside as he has felt a calling to open up an innovative, coffee shop mental and spiritual health center in his local city of Castle Rock, Colorado and to pursue developing more online counseling and relationship education resources. Alex continues to see clients and develop counseling resources through his Relationship Institute of the Rockies I enjoyed serving alongside Brad and the passionate team he has assembled to

In the midst of Coronavirus, there is a rising divide that is becoming more and more apparent. Sides are being taken on how one ought to respond to restrictions and the pace of re-opening local, national, and global societies and economies. The divide seems to be widening as people pick sides — Democrats against Republicans, mask wearers against non-mask-wearers, social distancers against non-social distancers. In today's From the Touchline episode, I make a bit of a stronger exhortation and statement for people who identify as Christian. As Christians, we are called to be more than "keepers," we are called to love. And in today's podcast, I visit how God wants us to act and think towards one another in the midst

With COVID-19 stifling the world around, we wanted to provide an update on where our community projects and initiatives stand at this point. If you're an avid reader and follower, you will know that Valor Christian High School cancelled their trip to Costa Rica. The houses still got built, but the team that was to leave back in mid-March had to return the requested soccer gear. We still have a fulfillment waiting for new project requestor, Musana; however, the delay with lockdown measures has meant that the containers are behind in being finished and with the country of Uganda shut down as well, there haven't been approvals for the shipping manifesto and the soccer items that we've currently got waiting

Part of the uniqueness of the beautiful game is the game is in constant motion. There is little stopping of play and there is a fluidity to the athletes and official that are on the field. Especially for the midfield position, there is a lot of running that goes on. Data analytics have tracked averages around 7 miles in a typical soccer match — with some players running as much as 9.5 miles in a game. On today's From the Touchline podcast episode, Wells Thompson is our special guest. Wells is a now-retired midfielder who played for many years — in college for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons and then for Major League Soccer professional clubs New England Revolution, Colorado Rapids,

Soccer Chaplains United's Director of Counseling, Brooke Ewert, recently took part in an interview series with the Colorado Rapids. With the month of May being known as Mental Health Month, the Rapids have been doing a series, entitled, Mindful Monday. The interview style stories on the website featured Brooke and others working in the field of mental health and sport. Read the interview here. Part of the vision of Soccer Chaplains United is to work closely with counselors in order to provide necessary clinical interventions that support the whole person. While chaplains often provide spiritual help and support, there are times when it is important to refer the athletes, coaches, staff, and their family members on to a trusted counselor