ECNL Selects Second H.E.R. Coaching Scholarship Recipients
Soccer News from the ECNL – As part of the Amazing Young WomenTM campaign, the Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) has announced the 2016 recipients of the H.E.R. Coaching Scholarships (Health & Education Resources). Six women from across the country were chosen from a deep pool of talented applicants to continue their coaching development and receive a scholarship from the ECNL to pursue a USSF “D” or “E” coaching license.
ECNL has always supported the women’s side of soccer. ECNL’s Amazing Young Women campaign launched this time last year is a strong and powerful salute to women in soccer. Focused on supporting a woman’s #BeautifulAmbition, ECNL has brought awareness to all women in soccer — from young girls to female coaches.
“While there are not very many female coaches working in youth club soccer right now, there are actually a lot more working in college,” said Christian Lavers, ECNL President. “I am sure there will be more women coaches entering youth soccer in the coming years. Hopefully they will love coaching youth soccer and want to devote themselves to it for a long time.
Launched in 2015, the H.E.R. Coaching Scholarship Program was created by the ECNL specifically for ECNL Alumni and aspiring female coaches. The program aims to encourage top current or former female players to enter the coaching profession, encourage continuing education within the profession, and continually raise the level of play in female youth soccer.
“The expectations for today’s coaches are constantly increasing, and in order to continue to Raise the Game, we need to support coaches and their desire to learn and improve their craft,” said Jen Woodie, ECNL Acting Commissioner who replaced Sarah Kate Noftsinger, the league’s first Commissioner.
“By supporting the growth and education of women’s club coaches specifically, we hope to continue to increase the number of former female players that transition to coaching in youth soccer when their careers are done,” said Woodie.
Of the six recipients:
- Two are current ECNL players,
- Three are ECNL Alumni currently on staff with an ECNL Member Club,
- And one is a current ECNL Member Club coach.
The H.E.R. winners are:
- Kelley Minogue, Dalals Texans*
- Grace Young, Richmond United+
- Alexa Diaz, Washington Premier*
- Emma Kirshner, FC Virginia+
- Sammy Scofield, Eclipse Select SC*
- Haley Miller, Penn Fusion SA^
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 2016.
“We want the cycle of giving back to continue in order to impact the next generation of players,” continued Woodie, ECNL Acting Commissioner. “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.
Key: * ECNL Alumni, ^ Current staff/coach at ECNL Member Club, Current ECNL player
Source: ECNL, Photo Credit: ECNL
