Chaplains with Soccer Chaplains United recently were offered the chance to receive mental health awareness training through an opportunity created in collaboration with the Global Sports Chaplaincy Association (GSCA) and Sports Chaplaincy — UK (SCUK). SCUK National Director of Scotland, Mark Fleming, led the two-hour zoom training session which helped identified particular mental health issues that exist within professional sport and how chaplains might maintain a good level of mental health themselves and for those they serve. Mark's work in sports chaplaincy began with serving as Chaplain to Partick Thistle FC in 1998 and after nine years began gradually to source, train and appoint chaplains at other Scottish football clubs. Today, over 110 Scottish football clubs have chaplains and Mark

Recently, Major League Soccer (MLS), National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and United Soccer Leagues (USL) have all announced plans for returning to play. MLS has yet to declare or confirm actual dates, but the reported plan is to have a league-wide, 30-day tournament in Orlando, FL to re-start the season. NWSL have already revealed a schedule for the 2020 NWSL Challenge Cup, a 25-game tournament beginning June 27. The USL Championship has announced July 11 as the provisional "return to play" date, though many more logistics need to be confirmed and factored. This week I have been in contact with Soccer Chaplains United chaplains throughout the U.S., and we are also seeing most of the college and high school teams

More than a few people have asked me, "What does your work and ministry look like right now?" When probing further into their questions, the obvious is part of their inquiry — there aren't any sports going on right now, social distancing means that people aren't together in the ways they used to be — so what does chaplaincy in soccer look like? Allow me to share some quick samples from Soccer Chaplains United's work: An athlete from another country is without a car while playing here for one of our lower division teams — getting to physical therapy appointments has been difficult. One of our chaplains has stepped up to drive him to his appointments.Another athlete and his wife recently welcomed

This October, with it being Pastoral Appreciation Month, we encourage supporters to "adopt" a chaplain — it might be a financial adoption, or prayer adoption — but however and whomever you might choose to "support" this month here is a little bit more on the chaplains that make up Soccer Chaplains United. #adoptachaplain Christ Presbyterian Academy High School Boys SoccerOne of Soccer Chaplains United's newest members, Rev Ryan Doyle is chaplain of CPA in Nashville, TN. Below are some of the ways you can "adopt" Ryan:- provide his 2020 Soccer Chaplains United membership- pray for Ryan, his wife, Lindsey, and six children - pray for his leadership of Mercy Presbyterian - pray for his teaching work with CPA- pray for his chaplaincy work with CPA Boys

The Lewan Family Foundation has, once again, provided a grant to help support the work of Soccer Chaplains United.  The foundation has partnered now, for the last four years, with our ministry. Their partnership has helped sustain Soccer Chaplains United through some key organizational moments, including the rebranding of the ministry which happened a couple of years ago. The Lewan family has been a notable name in Denver for many years through their company, Lewan Technology. The Lewan Family Foundation has had a long legacy of service and support of many local Denver and Colorado organizations including Denver Seminary, where many of our chaplains and counselors have received training. Soccer Chaplains United is non-profit, 501(c)3 and we are dependent upon