​​​​​​​Each year, Sports Chaplaincy New Zealand collaborates with Global Sports Sunday - a call for churches to express God’s love for people in sport through prayer/karakia.

Join us on 19th May!

Sports Chaplaincy New Zealand, caring for Aotearoa’s sporting community.

Sports Chaplaincy New Zealand provides pastoral care and support to Aotearoa New Zealand’s sporting communities. We do this by identifying, training, appointing, and guiding Sports Chaplains who are available as volunteers to serve sports communities at all levels.

What is a Sports Chaplain?

Sports Chaplains are volunteers in sports communities providing free, accessible pastoral care, support and mentoring to athletes, staff officials and their whānau on site and at the point of need irrespective of religion, lifestyle and beliefs.

The effect of Sports Chaplains placed in sports communities is improved mental, emotional and spiritual wellbeing leading to better people, better lives, better outcomes and better communities.

Sports Chaplains are not sports psychologists, replacements for player welfare officers or trained counsellors. Sports Chaplains act as first responders to assist people in need to professional services.


Some services Sports Chaplains provide

  • Grief, loss and bereavement support
  • Critical incident response and recovery
  • Life-skills mentoring
  • Mental wellbeing support
  • Suicide awareness and intervention
  • Home and hospital visitations
  • Transitions in life, career guidance and support

Adding Value in Waikato.

Sports Chaplaincy is growing in the Waikato, adding value to clubs, teams and schools.

Melville United AFC, Thames Valley RFU, Cambridge referees, St Paul's Collegiate and St Peter's Cambridge. Hear from Phil Pawley, our National Director, and a few sporting partners.

A Sports Chaplain's Impact.

Sports Chaplains provide support in many ways during the hardest of life's experiences.

This video tells a story when Sports Chaplain, Matt Hawkins, was called upon to lead a blessing ceremony at the AUT Millennium Institute after a tragic death in the pool.

Basketball is Calling!

Through stress, pressure, loss, and victory, Sports Chaplains are present.

Hear from Shane Auld (Southland Sharks chaplain), Chris Homer (Otago Nuggets chaplain), and a few other names in Basketball Otago and Southland.

SCNZ in Waikato/BoP has grown!

After a number of years in the role, Murray Hunt is moving into semi-retirement and as a result, we are looking for a new Regional Leader for Waikato/Bay of Plenty to proactively lead SCNZ’s movement and strategy within the region toward the vision of a placed Sports Chaplain for every sports community.​​​​​​​

We are looking for someone who can build on the excellent work that others in the region have already begun, taking SCNZ in this region to the next level. You will need to adopt new leadership structures to accomodate growth, have a caring concern for those you lead, and have faith in God for funding.​​​​​​​

Here in Aotearoa, around 4 million people across the country meet weekly to engage in sport, but we know that players, coaches, and supporters all experience the trials and triumphs of sport and life.

Sports Chaplaincy New Zealand has collaborated with Global Sports Sunday which is a call for churches to express God’s love for people through praying/karakia for sport communities, whether they are next door, in the local community, national, or international.

How it works in three easy steps...

Step 1
​​​​​​​Register your interest

Just fill out our registration form to let us know if you're keen to run a Sports Sunday at your church!

You can join us on May 19th 2024, or choose a week that works best for you and the church you're running Sports Sunday at.

Step 2
Get prepped

Speak to your church leader to plan the service outline.

Then, download our free resources in preparation for your Sports Sunday. We have lots on offer from sermon outlines through to ads for the church notices/screens.

Step 3
Sports Sunday!

Sport Sunday will help you focus your church on the amazing opportunities for community engagement that sport presents.​​​​​​​

Register, get prepped, and ask the people in your church if they are willing to
GET IN THE GAME!

Interested in becoming a Sports Chaplain?
​​​​​​​​​​​​​​We would really love to hear from you, we have a huge need for more Sports Chaplains throughout our nation!

Inspirational Reflections
These reflections have been written with the aim of encouraging people to find more than just sporting success in this life.
Written inhouse, these reflections are built upon the wisdom found in the Word of God.

Some of Our Sporting Partners