SoccerToday’s Women In Soccer Series
Steve Hoffman, Cal South‘s Director of Coaching Education and Player Development is one of the most open minded coaches in the game of American soccer. A leader in the landscape of youth soccer, Hoffman has worked tirelessly to promote the training and development of youth players and provide opportunities for elite players to excel through the Olympic Development Program.
The youth soccer clubs in the Cal South area is well known for developing outstanding youth soccer players. With more than 204,000 registered members, teams from Cal South have won 67 US Youth Soccer National Championships, 167 US Youth Soccer Far West Regional titles, 31 ODP National Championships and 71 ODP Region IV Championships. Unlike many other US Youth Soccer state associations, Cal South has nearly an even balance between recreational and competitive players as well as girls and boys participating in the world’s favorite sport.
“CalSouth is one of the most forward thinking states in the country when it comes to promoting and identify potential female coaches to the beautiful game,” said Steve Hoffman, Cal South‘s Director of Coaching Education and Player Development who has always been a strong supporter of the women’s game. Hoffman realizes the low percentage of female coaches in America and is committed to helping women succeed in the beautiful game of soccer.
“In Cal South, our clubs have produced many talented female players who have competed and won at the highest level. One of my favorite players is Rachel Buehler Van Hollebeke – she is a perfect example,” said Hoffman. “Van Hollebeke has played on the U.S. Olympic Women’s Soccer Team as well on the FIFA Women’s World Cup squad. Owning Gold Medals is just one of her accomplishments for this player who was just inducted into the Cal South Hall of Fame class of 2015.”
Great players need great coaches and Hoffman is dedicated to helping further women in all aspects of the game. “I have had many of conversations with Jillian Ellis US Women’s National Team Head Coach, April Heinrichs – who was the former captain of the US Women’s National Team and has been the Development Director for women’s soccer at US Soccer since 2011 – and Carin Jennings Gabarra – another former US National Women’s Team player who is now the Head Coach for the Navy – on how to bring more female coaches into the game.
“These three women, Jill, April and Carin, are fantastic coaches and role models. They always inspire me, and they have inspired our entire Cal South staff,” said Hoffman. “I love to listen to them as they have really invested their lives into the women’s game.”
“Our partners at the LA84 Foundation, which is the legacy of the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games, also feel we need to empower more female coaches not just in soccer but every sport.”
So what has been done to help the game grow on the coaching side for female coaches?
“Our goal is promote young female coaches and nurture there fantastic passion they have for the game,” said Hoffman.
According to Hoffman, here are three ways Cal South is helping promote women in the game of soccer.
1. Cal South offers two annual US Soccer “E” licenses and 1 US Soccer “D” license course annually, specifically designed and presented by female coaches for female coaches. These course are also subsidized by the LA 84 Foundation to make them really affordable.
2. In the Pro+ Program/ODP, we continually look for Cal South female Alumni that are looking to enter the coaching world and get involved. We bring these female players on staff as – Coaches in Training – for our girls teams. We also offer this on the boys side.
3. The future is looking positive. Cal South has helped develop several young women in our program who I feel a ready to take their game to the next level as far as US Soccer coaching schools.
Carrie Taylor, Jennifer Tanaka, Michelle Myers, Jaymie Baquero, Tessa Troglia, Ashlee Elliott, Kelly Pohle, Justine Sauder make the Cal South future for Women’s coaches a very exciting one.
The US Census bureau estimates that in 2014 there were more than 318,857,000 people living in the USA. In fact, women are 50.8% of the population. Unlike other industries or even other sports, the soccer coaching world is still male dominated. “Cal South is determined to do everything it can to help support our female coaches and the growth of the game for everyone,” said Hoffman.
If you are a female player or female coach who would like to be involved in coaching in Cal South, please reach out to Steve Hoffman.
What does Hoffman think about the current Women’s World Cup?
“The Women’s World Cup is the biggest event on the planet. It is so special to see women from all over the world playing the game they love for countries around the world. They have already won by being part of the world cup by fighting against all the hurdles that have been placed in front of them by their country and culture. For the U.S. we want to be world champions and we must focus one game at a time. Unity. Strength. Attitude. This is what USA stands for.”
“I’m very proud of their performance so far,” continues Hoffman, “A win against Australia 3-1, a tie against Sweden 0-0 and the win against Nigeria 1-0, secures their Group D bracket. That’s exactly where they need to be. We couldn’t ask for more.”
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