Abstract
Sport chaplaincy has been evolving since the latter half of the twentieth century, and many professional teams and professional organizations utilize the services of chaplains. Several licensing and credentialing organizations do train chaplains, counselors and mentors, but they are not necessarily aimed at sport chaplains. Chaplains have become more prominent in collegiate athletics as well and as such several training programs have developed for collegiate sport chaplains. Collegiate institutions, parachurch organizations and nonprofit faith-based organizations offer the programs that do exist. However, in collegiate athletics there is no governing body that oversees the training requirements or qualifications of chaplains. This has led to some chaplains providing counseling, therapy, and suicide intervention, which may go beyond their qualifications and thus require additional extensive training and/or licensure. The work of chaplains with student-athletes at public institutions also raises the issue of the separation of church and state. The promise of sport chaplains is that they provide holistic care, support, and education beyond wins and losses. Problems arise because there are no established qualifications or training criteria. The issue at hand is trying to balance the benefits of having chaplains while addressing the concerns that have arisen as a result in the growth of sport chaplains.
Recommended Citation
Waller, Steven; Dzikus, Lars; and Hardin, Robin
(2008)
"Collegiate Sport Chaplaincy: Problems and Promise,"
Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics: Vol. 1, Article 18.
Available at:
https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/jiia/vol1/iss1/18