Soccer News: Youth Soccer Taps Its Ranks for Top Aspiring Female Coaches
The attention on women’s soccer is on the rise as the World Cup kicks off in Canada on June 6. As part of celebrating women in soccer, ECNL salutes those young women who rise to top both on and off the soccer fields of America.
As part of the Amazing Young WomenTM campaign, the Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) has announced the 2015 recipients of the H.E.R. Coaching Scholarships (Health & Education Resources).
Ten women from across the country were chosen from a deep pool of talented applicants to continue their coaching development and receive a scholarship to pursue a USSF “D” or “E” coaching license.
The H.E.R. Coaching Scholarship Program was created by the ECNL specifically for ECNL Alumni and aspiring female coaches in the ECNL to encourage top current or former female players to enter the coaching profession, encourage continuing education within the profession, and continue to raise the level of play in youth soccer.
“The expectations of today’s female athletes have evolved and in order to continue to raise the level of the game, we need to support coaches and their drive to excel and get better,” said Sarah Kate Noftsinger, ECNL Commissioner. “By supporting the growth and education of coaches, we also raise the bar in development of our younger players. It’s a win-win.”
Of the ten recipients, three are current ECNL players and seven are ECNL Alumni currently on staff with an ECNL Member Club, or both. The winners are:
| Name | ECNL Affiliation | Hometown |
| Kassandra McCluskie | Sereno SC*, FC Portland^ | Scottsdale, AZ |
| Sammy Scofield | Eclipse Select SC* | Geneva, IL |
| Brianna Garcia | East Meadow SC* | East Meadow, NY |
| Amanda Forrester | Heat FC*^ | Las Vegas, NV |
| Marisa Kresge | Maryland United* | Severna Park, MD |
| Maura Ryan | Continental FC^ | West Chester, PA |
| Philippa Whitehand | Pleasanton Rage*^ | Pleasanton, CA |
| Zoe Boocock | FC Virginia+ | Alexandria, VA |
| Alexis Weaver | West FL Flames+ | Venice, FL |
| Katelyn Jensen | Mclean YS+ | McLean, VA |
* ECNL Alumni
^ Current staff/coach at ECNL Member Club
+ Current ECNL player
An acronym for “Health & Education Resources,” H.E.R. is funded by the ECNL and is another platform in the Amazing Young WomenTM campaign created to encourage, support and provide opportunity for young female athletes.
To be eligible, H.E.R. scholarship applicants were required to be current or former ECNL players, current female coaches within ECNL Member Clubs, or females that aspire to coach or currently coach a women’s and/or girls’ team at the club or college level. Each winner will receive financial assistance to attend either the US Soccer Federation National Coaching School’s “D” license course or “E” license course in 2015.
“We want this cycle of giving back to continue and impact the next generation of players,” continued Sarah Kate Noftsinger, ECNL Commissioner. “A few years from now, we fully expect to see more of today’s players in the youth leagues as tomorrow’s H.E.R. recipients.”
To learn more about the first class of H.E.R. Coaching Scholarship winners, visit www.amazingyoungwomen.com.
