Title: What is a sports chaplain? And why are they an important component of sports medicine and athlete care?

Abstract:

Why do we need sports chaplains? Competitive and professional athletes have a significant influence in the world. They are entertainers. They are battlers, warriors, who are often putting their bodies on the line, and at the limit their lives. Their performance often becomes the topic of conversation and judgement not only personally, internally at their clubs, but also in the public sector for all to scrutinise. They make massive sacrifices, not only physically to participate and compete in their sports but socially, spending long hours, and days that turn into months and years of missing family occasions - including celebrations and bereavements, all for the sake of their performance and the advancement of their careers. It is impossible to know the impact or count the cost that the countless hours of preparation and competition have on these athletes physically, mentally, emotionally, socially and for many spiritually. But who is there for these athletes as individuals? As humans, irrespective of their last or next performance?

Biography:

Matthew is a physiotherapist by profession, graduating with a BPhty from Otago university in New Zealand in 2010. He worked full time as a physiotherapist for 3 years, with a particular interest in sports working with several premier men’s rugby teams and various regional and national representative athletes. He then became a volunteer with an international interdenominational Christian organisation youth with a mission (YWAM) in Biarritz, France for 7 years as a mentor and sports facilitator. Completing his sports chaplaincy training with Holistic sports in France, he has been serving high level athletes, predominantly professional rugby players as a sports chaplain for 4 years. With this combination of skills to treat and care for athletes as a whole, Matthew has a profound passion in providing, promoting and training holistic care and support for high level athletes in mind, body, soul and spirit.