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I recently had occasion to visit Cambridge, England and while I was there, I was interested to learn a unique piece of football history. Apparently, the first known instance of codifying (or writing down) the rules of association football (or, what we Yanks call soccer) happened in Cambridge. In 1848, a group of Cambridge University students wrote out a set of 11 rules. They nailed these to the trees surrounding Parker’s Piece, what is today a large grassy park in the heart of central Cambridge.

Today, on the From the Touchline podcast, I take a look at Rule 2, which states:

At the commencement of the play, the ball shall be kicked off from the middle of the ground:

after every goal there shall be a kick-off in the same way.

The start and restarts of the game take place in a particular and appointed place. Could the same be true of life? Whether you go through an injury or after a season, are there reset points where we can “begin again?” Today, I reflect on this Cambridge Rule of 1848 and a reference points where Jesus would get to a “middle ground” to pray, refocus, regroup, and rest.

From the Touchline is a short-feature (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 the topics of faith, family, and football (soccer).

Also, don’t forget that you can listen in our app, SoccrChapUtd, in the Apple and Google store.