Culture Hero Award Recipient: Meet ASP Coach Mariyam
Mariyam has been a Girls Leading Girls coach for four years and has taken on the role of Lead Coach for our free after school program (ASP) in Oakland. Thanks to Mariyam's dedication to our values - especially Leadership, Communication and Community - we have seen an increase in attendance at our Saturday ASP sessions from Fall to Winter. Additionally, due to Mariyam's relationship with players and the parents, ASP has been and continues to be successful!
Hear from Coach Mariyam about her soccer journey and how her experiences have influenced her dedication to Leadership and Community Building!
“My love for soccer started in middle school when I joined a recreational team. I didn't have much training or experience with the sport, but I just loved how happy it made me feel to be on the field. When I began high school, I tried out for the soccer team as a sophomore and made it to the Jr Varsity team. Although I was disappointed not to be on the Varsity team, I saw it as an opportunity to enhance my skills. My passion for soccer pushed me to try out the following year and earn a position on the varsity team. Yet, I found myself constantly on the sidelines without playing time. Again, I was disappointed; however, I took it as another chance to learn from more experienced players, even if it was from the sidelines. I continued working hard and conditioning during the off-season by joining the cross-country team. I was determined to show my coach how motivated I was to make the team through my hard work on the field. By my senior year, I was the captain of the Varsity team, and our team was undefeated in our region. My teammates saw how hard I worked, and they fed off my positive energy in every game. This experience hugely impacted me on and off the field because it taught me that being a leader starts with yourself.
Now, as a coach, I use the same energy to encourage my players. For many of the students participating in our after school programs, this is their first exposure to the sport. When I see a student excited about soccer, I must encourage them to hone in on their possible passion for the sport. Building relationships with students' Guardians and sharing clinic opportunities allows students to enhance their skills and interact with other passionate players. I will never forget when we had a game day for after school players, and a student's father had tears in his eyes and told me it was the first time he'd ever seen his 4th grader show passion for anything. Interactions like these are why I've continued coaching for over 3 years. Having grown up around many of the schools I coach, I find it essential that the players have coaches they can relate to. Given that our ASP programs are at school sites with predominantly Black students, it gives them a safe space for conversations about race and gender. Ultimately, I love coaching because I get to see a player's passion grow in real-time and possibly impact students on and off the field.”
Congratulations to Coach Mariyam for winning our Culture Hero award this Winter Season!
Coach Mariyam Muhammad