Youthwork Magazine

Project Touchline Case Study

Long before Project Touchline was working in more than 150 schools across England and Wales, the vision first began gaining attention through a feature in Premier Youthwork Magazine.

The article introduced readers to the early story behind Project Touchline — a growing sports ministry exploring how faith, values and sport could work together within primary schools and local communities.

The Early Vision

The case study featured Chris Andrew, Founder and Director of Project Touchline, reflecting on how his background in education, rugby coaching and lay ministry gradually came together into a distinctive calling.

Having previously worked with Bath Rugby’s community outreach programme and within schools for many years, Chris described a growing conviction that sport could become more than physical activity or competition alone.

Instead, sport could become:

a space for encouragement,
a place where values are practised,
and a way of helping children experience belonging, confidence and faith in everyday life.

The article explored how the programme intentionally connected:

Christian values,
collective worship,
reflection,
and rugby coaching within primary school settings.

“Faith and Sport Are Very Similar Journeys”

One of the key reflections shared in the article was the idea that faith and sport often mirror one another.

Both involve:

perseverance,
setbacks,
growth,
teamwork,
discipline,
and learning how to respond under pressure.

This philosophy later became central to Project Touchline’s now well-known “values first, sport second” approach.

Rather than separating spiritual development from physical activity, the programme sought to weave them together naturally throughout the school day.

From Rugby World Cup to School Ministry

The article also reflected on how the 2015 Rugby World Cup helped catalyse the vision.

Following local community coaching sessions connected to the tournament, conversations began around how sport and Christian values could work together more intentionally within schools and churches.

What began as a local initiative slowly grew into a wider ministry supporting schools through:

Scripture-rooted Collective Worship,
values-based PE,
lunchtime prayer clubs,
reflection spaces,
and whole-school culture development.

Six Foundations for Sports Ministry

Alongside the feature, the magazine included practical guidance for others interested in sports ministry and outreach.

Themes included:

creating safe and welcoming spaces,
building strong foundations and values,
coaching with professionalism and care,
and using sport as a way of serving communities rather than simply running activities.

Many of these principles still shape Project Touchline today.

Looking Back — and Looking Forward

Looking back, the Youthwork Magazine feature now feels like an early glimpse into what Project Touchline would later become.

Since the article was published:

more than 150 schools have partnered with Project Touchline,
over 900 acts of Collective Worship have taken place,
and countless children, teachers, clergy and families have engaged with prayer clubs, reflection and values-based sport across the country.

While the programme has grown, the heart of the vision remains the same:
helping children experience encouragement, belonging, faith and “life in all its fullness” through relationships, worship, prayer and sport.