Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) Selects First H.E.R. Coaching Scholarship Recipients
Youth Soccer Taps Its Ranks for Top Aspiring Female Coaches
RICHMOND, Va., May 19, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As part of the Amazing Young Women™ 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 Women™ 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.
About Amazing Young Women™: The Amazing Young Women campaign is a dynamic platform of online and local market activations that showcase and celebrate female role models offering an aspirational focus for all female athletes and teens as they prepare to be our next generation of leaders. Throughout the 2014-2015 season, the ECNL will showcase what it means to have #BeautifulAmbition as exemplified by former and current ECNL players, and will call on all of the nation's women to join the movement to celebrate the endless potential of today's girls.
About Elite Clubs National League: The Elite Clubs National League (ECNL) was founded in 2009 to enhance the developmental experience of female youth soccer players in the United States through: (i) Improving the competitive environment through creation of a true national competitive league; (ii) Improving the process for identifying elite female soccer players for the U.S. Soccer youth national teams through a systematic scouting and identification program based on national competitions; and (iii) improving the daily training environment at top female youth soccer clubs through developing best practices and training and organizational guidelines for its member clubs. The ECNL is sanctioned by US Club Soccer and is sponsored by Nike Soccer.
eliteclubsnationalleague.com | Facebook: /theECNL | Twitter: @theECNL
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SOURCE Elite Clubs National League
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