Each month we feature one ASA coach to learn more about his or her background and personal story and this month (April 2019) we’re featuring Coach Emily!
What programs do you coach at ASA and how long have you been coaching with our club?
I coach the U9 and U10 Girls. I’m the head coach for ‘White’ but work with the whole age group 🙂 This is my first year at ASA!
When did you begin coaching? What got you interested?
I began coaching young goalkeepers when I was still playing in college (editors note — Emily played for the University of California Golden Bears!). I never imagined leading teams but now that I am doing it, I love the consistency with which we spend time together. The relationships we can build on the pitch are truly special.
What is one of your favorite things about coaching for ASA?
Giggling with the kids. They crack me up! And after each game when we share ‘shout outs’ and the players offer affirmations of each other and the team! It’s so cool to see young girls support each other, and to see what things they notice about each other’s performance on the pitch.
Where did you grow up and what’s your favorite soccer memory from your childhood?
I am from Redwood City, smack in between San Francisco and San Jose in Northern California. My team from ages 10–13 literally spent all of our time together. We would play pick up on the beach, we would play handball in the pool, and we would practice our sickest tricks in the backyard while our parents BBQed.
When you’re not coaching what do you like to do in your free time?
I’m super social. I love to hang out with my partner, friends, and family. We love to check out live music, try new restaurants (Ethiopian food is my favorite thing in the world), go out dancing, ride bikes, and go on long hikes. During solo time, I love to expand my anti-racist lens by reading and writing and listening to incredible POC thinkers (Malcolm X, Audre Lorde, Gloria Anzaldúa, local Black Lives Matter activists and many more).
Who’s your soccer hero and why?!
As a kid I loved to watch Briana Scurry in the goal for the USWNT. She was so fierce! I also loved Totti and Pirlo from Italy (not goalkeepers!) because a coach of mine inspired me to watch the way they possess and take players on…they made me fall in love with the beautiful game!
And finally….give us one fun fact about yourself.
I played Little League baseball as long as I could and in my last season a regional news station reached out to do a piece on the girl striking out all the boys. It’s quite the segment, full of weird 12 year-old Emily quotes and awesome footage of me on the mound.
Thank you Emily! We’re thrilled to have you coaching for ASA. Emily also trains our goalkeepers and is working on a few exciting projects that we’ll be announcing in the future.
