May 3, 2012
We just wrapped up our first ever spring soccer season this past Saturday and on Sunday evening our coaches got together to share their experiences from the past two months. The work that our coaches do is not easy and, at times, the players can be quite challenging. Still, each of our coaches had a great story or two to tell about the progress they saw in their players over the season. The girls’ team coaches spoke of games when their girls did a great job encouraging each other on the field, surprising conversations shared about the bible, and memories made when they were able to just have fun together. One coach told of being asked by a player, “Why do you all even do this?” to which she was able to respond “We love you all. We do it because God enables us to love you by loving us.” The boys’ coaches shared similar stories of unexpected appreciation shown by their players and of a player who began the season with a bad attitude but who soon began to understand the expectations of his coaches and became one of the most consistent players on the team. These and other stories are only a glimpse into the work done by our coaches day in and day out, but together, they paint a picture of why we do what we do.  With the spring season now behind us, CSM is currently recruiting coaches and players for our EIGHTH (!) summer, when we will again be running a 9-week soccer league for 12 teams comprised of 150+ players. Please pray that God would provide the many mentor-coaches that are so desperately needed to make the summer a success and that come August we would again find ourselves in awe of the stories God has written among us. 

We just wrapped up our first ever spring soccer season this past Saturday and on Sunday evening our coaches got together to share their experiences from the past two months. The work that our coaches do is not easy and, at times, the players can be quite challenging. Still, each of our coaches had a great story or two to tell about the progress they saw in their players over the season.

The girls’ team coaches spoke of games when their girls did a great job encouraging each other on the field, surprising conversations shared about the bible, and memories made when they were able to just have fun together. One coach told of being asked by a player, “Why do you all even do this?” to which she was able to respond “We love you all. We do it because God enables us to love you by loving us.”

The boys’ coaches shared similar stories of unexpected appreciation shown by their players and of a player who began the season with a bad attitude but who soon began to understand the expectations of his coaches and became one of the most consistent players on the team. These and other stories are only a glimpse into the work done by our coaches day in and day out, but together, they paint a picture of why we do what we do. 

With the spring season now behind us, CSM is currently recruiting coaches and players for our EIGHTH (!) summer, when we will again be running a 9-week soccer league for 12 teams comprised of 150+ players. Please pray that God would provide the many mentor-coaches that are so desperately needed to make the summer a success and that come August we would again find ourselves in awe of the stories God has written among us. 

March 30, 2012

Spring is here and with it we’re kicking off our first ever season of Spring Soccer! Just like our fall season, our spring season will bring together the youth of Emma Wheeler homes in Chattanooga’s Alton Park neighborhood for several weeks of practices, games, and great times together. The first game of the season was held on March 17, where our girls team won their first game! Both teams are making tremendous progress and we can’t wait to see what the spring will hold for our players, both in terms of skills learned and relationships built. We hope you’ll consider joining us for a game and cheering on our players! Check out the full schedule at csm.is. 

March 9, 2012

The Neighborhood Cup was a BLAST! The numbers pretty much say it all: 152 kids, 11 neighborhoods, 16 teams, 12 hours, and 2 champions. It was great to see members from so many different communities come together for this one day of fun and soccer. The big winners were the Brainerd girls and the St. Elmo boys, who got some heavy competition in the finals from the Lookout Mountain girls and the East Lake boys. It was so rewarding to see such a diverse group of kids, parents and community members alike having such a great time out on the field. Thanks to everyone who came out and played, coached, volunteered, cheered, sponsored, and supported us! We can’t wait to do it all again next year! 

Don’t forget to like Neighborhood Cup or follow @neighborcup for the latest updates and photos!

February 15, 2012 • 1 note

These days at CSM, we’re busy getting ready for the Neighborhood Cup.

What is the Neighborhood Cup you ask? O it’s just this little idea we cooked up to get youth from all over Chattanooga together for two days of soccer and friendship. And it’s coming up in just a couple of weeks!

We could tell you more, but we don’t want to spoil the surprise when you click HERE to read all about it! We hope to see you there! 

February 9, 2012

Great news: This week, CSM was awarded a grant to purchase some much-needed equipment for our year-round soccer league!

The grant is from the U.S. Soccer Foundation, the Major Charitable Arm of Soccer in the United States. The U.S. Soccer Foundation supports programs, like CSM’s soccer league, that provide underserved youth in urban communities with opportunities that promote positive behavior, healthy lifestyles, self-confidence and positive alternatives to drugs, crime and other at-risk behaviors. Since being established in 1994, the Foundation has awarded more than $55 million to non-profit organizations in all 50 states.

We at CSM are really excited to be chosen as one of the U.S. Soccer Foundation’s 2012 grant recipients. The grant will equip us to greatly improve our league by providing our wonderful players and coaches the quality equipment they deserve!

Check out the full story on the grant here: http://chattanoogan.com/2012/2/9/219098/Chattanooga-Sports-Ministries-Receives.aspx

November 15, 2011

Doin’ the Jig :-)

August 25, 2011
A great summer was only the beginning!  In the weeks ahead, we’re going to start something new: a fall program for boys and girls from the Emma Wheeler homes in Chattanooga’s Alton Park neighborhood. The teams will play other local recreational teams once a week from September 12 - November 9. It’s a new way for us to keep kids involved in soccer until next year, but also a very intentional way for us to continue the mentoring relationships begun this summer.  We’re keeping our eyes open for how CSM can expand in the future, but right now we’re focused on these fall Emma Wheeler teams and how we harness the momentum of this summer for more players in seasons to come – because there’s no place like home field.

A great summer was only the beginning! 

In the weeks ahead, we’re going to start something new: a fall program for boys and girls from the Emma Wheeler homes in Chattanooga’s Alton Park neighborhood. The teams will play other local recreational teams once a week from September 12 - November 9. It’s a new way for us to keep kids involved in soccer until next year, but also a very intentional way for us to continue the mentoring relationships begun this summer. 




We’re keeping our eyes open for how CSM can expand in the future, but right now we’re focused on these fall Emma Wheeler teams and how we harness the momentum of this summer for more players in seasons to come – because there’s no place like home field.

July 15, 2011
Found on the way to Ridge Haven. Truth.

Found on the way to Ridge Haven. Truth.

July 14, 2011
Ben Johnson
Chattanooga Youth Network
Area Podcast
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]

Director Ben Johnson being interviewed by the Youth Network.

July 11, 2011
So many stars out here. Beautiful!

So many stars out here. Beautiful!