Laying the Gloves Down: An Athlete Retirement Story

Today on the From the Touchline podcast, I share from my experience this past weekend as I was invited out to be present in an athlete retirement ceremony and celebration. Clint Irwin, former Colorado Rapids goalkeeper, who also played for Toronto FC and Minnesota United FC, had a moment for friends and family to gather. I’d shared with Clint the idea of having some sort of ceremony or ritual to mark the occasion. Often, athletes play their last professional game without really knowing that it was that — their last game. We need closure. We need ceremony. We need to celebrate, commemorate, and commission athletes into a new chapter of life and living. I talk a bit more about that on today’s podcast. 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.