Celebrating Women's History Month: Empowering Girls Through Soccer
During Women's History Month at Girls Leading Goals, we celebrate the achievements of women across many fields and particularly in soccer, women have not only made significant strides but also paved the way for future generations.
GLG recognizes that success in soccer is not just about scoring goals but also about developing as individuals. With a focus on leadership and life skills, GLG equips girls with tools that transcend the soccer field. From communication and teamwork to resilience and goal-setting, participants of GLG emerge as well-rounded individuals prepared to tackle challenges head-on and excel in any endeavor they pursue.
As we honor Women's History Month, it's crucial to recognize the trailblazers who have shaped women's soccer and paved the way for organizations like GLG. From iconic players like Mia Hamm and Marta to visionary coaches and advocates, women have played a pivotal role in elevating the status of women's soccer globally. Their dedication, passion, and perseverance inspire girls everywhere to dream big and pursue their passion for the beautiful game.
For Girls Leading Goals, we celebrate and recognize two of our own who have done just that!
Lexi Schumacher, GLG Coach and Program Assistant
I have been with GLG since August 2020, coaching micro soccer, recreational, competitive, and travel teams! I played competitive travel soccer for 10 years until starting college where I played for the university’s club team along with endless hours of futsal. Outside of soccer, I have been coaching gymnastics, parkour, and CrossFit to all ages (infants to adults) for the last 8 years! When I am not coaching, I enjoy being on the field myself, hiking with my dog, and competing in Crossfit.
As a coach, I believe the small things matter in life, on and off the field. Many of the practices at GLG are empowering and leading to future success in women's sports and life! Such as encouraging and uplifting their teammates through shoutouts, finding their voice on and off the field with rotating captains to lead warm ups and cheers, and problem solving at half time with teammates about what's working and not working on the field!
I feel honored to have a role in my players' lives leading them to be future soccer stars, history makers, and barrier breakers!
Memorable moments:
Everytime a player gives another player a very heartfelt and thoughtful shoutout! It is great to see them recognize teammates' successes.
Kayli Gaspar, GLG Coach and Program Assistant
My name is Kayli and I’m a senior at the University of San Francisco. I’m majoring in Kinesiology and minoring in child and youth studies. I’ve been with GLG since September 2022, so coming up on about a year and a half, and have been head coaching for over a year now. I’m fortunate to have coached kindergarteners through middle schoolers. I’ve played soccer on and off throughout my childhood but really started to fall in love with the sport in high school, where I played on my school's varsity team and eventually was lucky enough to become my team's captain my junior year. It was a tricky environment because we had a lot of talent but not a lot of trust, so we struggled to find success. After my experience in such a negative environment, fostering positive, respectful and safe practice places is one of my biggest priorities because I never want my players to walk away feeling bad about themselves and/or their place on the team, which is way too common amongst women in sports.
I’m extremely lucky to be a part of such an empowering community here at GLG. GLG has helped me find my confidence and grow as a coach through all the opportunities, training and trust I’ve been lucky enough to receive, which in turn has enabled me to better help my teams and players find that confidence of their own! Being around a group of such strong and compassionate women really pushes you to be the best you you can be. On the flip side I get to help empower and teach young women who in turn are constantly teaching me things as well, whether it's about coaching, myself or building community!
GLG’s emphasis on leadership and life skills gives girls the opportunity to practice those skills in a safe space where these developments are valued, recognized and rewarded here by coaching and staff. Everyone has something to contribute to the team and that doesn’t have to only be skill, which is something we coaches love to recognize and foster while still creating a competitive atmosphere and pushing for growth.
One of my own personal pedagogies includes teaching my players that they don’t need to give up their femininity to be seen as tough or taken seriously. If they feel good about themselves, then they can feel good about what they're doing and perform with confidence and that’s what matters most to me. Soccer is all about decision making and if my players can feel confident in any capacity, it’ll help them trust themselves and their decisions more, creating for better game play!
Women's History Month serves as a reminder of the progress made and the work yet to be done in championing gender equality and empowerment. Girls Leading Goals not only celebrates the achievements of women in soccer but also aims to nurture a generation of strong, confident, and resilient girls and women. As we look ahead, let's continue to uplift and support women in sports, ensuring that the legacy of empowerment and excellence in women's soccer endures for generations to come.