#UNC women’s soccer

[melodiousoblivionao3]

Nahas-Nahas UNC-NCC connection will be very interesting

[falsamoneda]

Lemme tell you something, I love watching maycee make her first professional start because it is a little pocket of joy to remember how good of a cb she is.

Like trucking it back to catch cali’s 9….**chef’s kiss**. No nerves fc for the win 🥇

[mrchiipchrome]

One of her first interviews as a Utd player

[never-sated]

Crowned our Queen!

It's our first Hermann since 2012 which, coincidentally, is when we won our last title.

[books-beer-boardgames]

University of North Carolina players at the world cup from uncwomenssoccer Instagram.

[mysticfalls01]

Soulmates

(Alessia Russo x reader)

Everyone knew that you and Less were soulmates, they could see the love that you guys have for each other through a simple look.

You met Less when you were only 5 years old. She was playing soccer with her older brother when she accidentally hit you with her ball. You started crying and she immediately went to console you, she didn’t understand why but she felt the necessity of making you smile. The moment you lifted your head she saw your green eyes, magically in that moment green became her favorite color and you guys became inseparable.

When you guys were 12 Less started to feel butterflies each time, she saw you in the stands when she had a match.

When you were 15 she asked you out in a date as she realized that she liked you as more than friends and in your third date she asked you to be her girlfriend.

“y/nn I know that it’s our third date and I can’t wait anymore to ask you. Would you like to become my girlfriend?” Less asked with a nervous voice.

“Yes Less! What took you so long baby? I've been waiting for years for you to ask me” you said with a playful voice

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

You liked football but let’s say that you didn’t have the skills so, you left the playing part to Less while you liked more the behind the scenes. You loved how much the stats could say a lot of a team and even there were times when the stats weren’t reflected on the final score of the game.

When Lessi turned 18 she decided to go to the States to play for UNC, that was the first challenge of your relationship as you feared her finding someone better than you. She reassured you that you were the only one for her so, you guys stayed in a long-distance relationship.

While she went to UNC you decided to go to Barcelona to study sport analytics. You were one of the best students of the program and that called FC Barcelona attention. You went and did a kind of internship for them for their women’s team, your job was to work with the other analysts, explain the reports to the head coach and then explain the numbers to the players.

In 2020 Less came back to the UK while you stayed some months more in Barcelona to finish your degree. During your time there you became friends to the girls of the team, specially to the older members as they understood the importance of your job. When you got your degree your time with them ended and you went back to England. Even if your time ended Barcelona still would hire you to be their analyst for the big games.

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

You moved back to England, more specifically to Manchester as United signed Less for three years. You were static to be back with the love of your life, your soulmate. Having been separated from Lessi was the hardest thing that you had ever done and you didn't wanted to do it again.

In 2021 Less with the help of Mary and Tooney asked you the big question. She rented out a restaurant just for you guys, she brought you your favorite flowers and after the most perfect date she got down in one knee. Mary and Tooney were hidden capturing the moment as she wanted to remeber it forever.

“y/n I’ve loved you even before I understood the meaning of love. I’ll forever be grateful to my brother as the day I met you he convinced me to go to the park. That day green became my favorite color. You are my number one supporter, and you never missed a game until I went to UNC. Even if I decided to go there, we stayed in a relationship and you don’t know it but you became my rock, with your support I knew that everything was possible. You could have perfectly stayed in Barcelona and work for one of the biggest clubs in the world however, you came back because of me. I remember telling my mom the day I met you that I would marry you before I fully understood what that meant but now, I do and I plan making those words true. y/n l/n will you marry me and make me the happiest woman alive? “

“Yes Lessi! I’ll marry you!”

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

In 2022 after the Euros and before the start of the new season you married your soulmate. Your wedding was full of friends, families, and football legends in the making. Your friends from Barcelona came to the wedding and even Aitana was your maid of honor while for Less it was Tooney. That day couldn't had been more perfect, you had everything you wanted.

In 2023 Arsenal became interested in Less, they even offered you a contract to join them as an analyst. They knew that Less wouldn’t join them if she had to leave you behind.

Now you and your wife work for the same club even if sometimes Barcelona still hire you for some matches. It was the beginning of a new chapter in your journey but you knew that with your soulmate beside you everything was going to be alright.

You met your soulmate by accident and everything because of football ball that she had hit too hard.

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

It was about time for me to write something, even if it's short, for my favorite player <3

[uswnt5]

I was searching old Reddit posts and found this comment from someone who went to school with Tobin. Sweet and funny. :

i went to school with/played on the mens varsity team while Tobin was on the Womens back at Ridge High in 2002-2006 but ironically she couldnt even play senior yr (despite making varsity as a freshman) cuz of her contracts with the US olympic team (Beijing 08 was coming up i think) AND she had a full ride to UNC who didnt want her getting hurt playing high school soccer.

So we always had classes/groups together but she was always VERY shy/quiet and in stark contrast to a few other star athletes that came outta my school she was the best and yet was the most modest by a LONG shot, i remember her being embarassed when teachers would hang up this article from when she was called 'The best up and coming US WOmens Soccer Player in the Country' in the New York Times during junior yr - but i also had to do my phsyicals/gym testing stuff like pull ups/push ups/truk lift etc and shes always been very skinny (with insane speed and even more insane stamina) but watching her go and bang out 25 pull ups (after the best female number in that class was like 6) without breaking a sweat lol. But more than anything she is genuinely one of the most modest athletes i can imagine, i dont know any other pro atheletes like that but I cant imagine a less arrogant person toh, wish her all the best.

Oh my gosh this is so great! 🙏

[stargirlsfc]

"...you're a trailblazer and you fight till the very end, and I think that's a stamp that you've left on our program for years to come."

To celebrate Alessia’s birthday today, here’s a lil throwback to the UNC Womens Soccer team's video message for Alessia in 2021.

🎥: Caroline Queen on Youtube

[wileys-russo]

UNC Lessi is her best era.

Fic request from a Duke Alumnus:

Reader is a mean girl and captain of Duke (UNC’s rival) women’s soccer team. Their first match against each other doesn’t go well. Reader fouls Alessia and after this they have an on-going rivalry. Reader snaps after Alessia scores the goal to win the ACC championship. Alessia pines after the reader when she runs into her at a youth soccer camp that the reader is coaching at.

Idk add some fluff and heated make outs

oo 👀 new mini series once childhood sweethearts is done perhaps?

[tooneys-russo]

Boots and Broken Hearts

A/N: A new fic that I have been thinking about, it'll follow Alessia Russo and original character Willa Conti as they navigate their lives at UNC.

Chapter 1:

The right person, but always the wrong time, maybe one day they can get their timing right. Alessia grew up in the South of London, she had two older brothers and a football obsessed Father, Mario. Her weekends were filled with football, either her playing, her brother Gio playing, her father playing for a local side. Alessia had to play with boys up until the age of 12 due to there being no local girls team she could join, but that was the best thing that could have happened to her. Playing with boys had given her a hunger to be better, stronger and faster than the boys to make sure they wouldn’t have anything to say about having a girl on their team. At school she would often be picked first by the boys because they knew exactly how good she was. Her talents had her noticed by the England Development Team, she went to her first camp for the under 14 team at the tender age of 12. There she met her best friend Ella, they were inseparable from the first moment they met. They both featured in elite football academies although for opposing teams, Alessia for Chelsea and Ella for Manchester United, they would play against each other but nothing would change between them off the pitch no matter the result. When it came time for the two to take on professional contracts Ella was offered a full time contract at her junior club, Alessia made the biggest decision of her young life, well the biggest one at that time, she decided to leave everything she knew and went to college in the United States. Alessia made her stamp on the collegiate football world when she made her first start with North Carolina University.

In comparison Willa had a slightly different road to North Carolina. She was raised in Newcastle Upon Tyne in the North East of England. She was chosen at the tender age of 8 to sign her first contract with Sunderland’s Junior Academy. Willa was tagged as an up and comer, he was a 12 year old playing in the under 16 side, and was placed into the England under 17 side by the age of 14. Willa had an outstanding junior career until she was 16, she was playing in the Under 19 European Championships, it was the final, the game she dreamed of. She stood in the opposition’s 18 yard box waiting for the corner to come in. As the ball soared towards her, Willa readied herself. The ball made contact with her head, then she felt a sharp pain to the right side of her face, then darkness. The Spanish Captain had attempted to clear the ball from the box, but instead she had kicked Willa in the face. It resulted in Willa being knocked unconscious, as well as slicing the right cheek, fracturing her cheekbone, eye socket and breaking her jaw. At that moment Willa had scored the winning goal and had her short career ended. She had her jaw wired shut for 2 months, headaches and concussion symptoms for 4 months and multiple surgeries to fix the shattered bones in her face. By the time she was cleared to play again Willa was 17 and without an academy contract. Her final year of high school was frustrating, she was surrounded by her friends from the academies who were on track for professional contracts, while she was playing division 4 women’s. Willa needed to escape from what could have been, so he sat the SATs and was on a plane as soon as she finished school, playing football (now soccer) at University of California, Los Angeles, UCLA. For four years she studied hard for her MBA while also being the star player of the UCLA Bruins Women’s Soccer Team, Captain from her Sophomore year onwards. She had a passion for analytics and would run reports of all stats for coaches each game, she knew she may never make it pro but she could make a difference on the sidelines. In her Senior year she played in the National Championship game and with 8 minutes until the end of the game her knee gave way. She knew exactly what it was, her ACL.

There were three years between Willa and Alessia, she had stared at UCLA and she had now made the decision to step off the field and begin her coaching and analytical career, her knee still gave her trouble after the reconstruction, each time she kicked the ball it felt different and she knew she was done at the tender age of 22. North Carolina was her lifeline and she took it with both hands. Alessia was away on an England Camp when Willa started. Willa had begun working with Anson Dorrance, the coach of North Carolina on their current team list, looking at game footage from both North Carolina and every other team that they were facing. Willa had never watched so much football in her life as she did now. By the time she met the players Willa knew everything that she could about the technical abilities of the players, she noted that Alessia had not arrived yet as she was still at the National Camp. Both she and Anson had begun working on the pre-season preparation for the team. Once August came around Alessia was back at North Carolina and at training. “Willa this is-'' Anson began. “Alessia Russo, 9 goals, 2 assists in your first collegiate season with a conversion rate of 43 percent, well 43.28 percent to be exact. Very impressive.” Willa had a bright smile and held out her hand to shake. Alessia was surprised by the woman in front of her with the Newcastle accent that sounded familiar, she seemed to know more about her than she did. Their blue eyes met as they shook hands. “I’m Willa Conti, pleasure to meet you Alessia.” She smiled and bit her lip gently. “Pleasure to meet you too, Willa. You seem to know a fair bit about football.” Willa laughed and let go of her hand.”Hope so. Might be disappointing if I didn’t.” Anson patted Alessia on the back. “Get on the park and join the team.” Alessia ran to join her teammates who were ecstatic that she was back.

After training Willa was going through the data from each player’s GPS and footage from the session. Her phone rang with a familiar name on the screen, her girlfriend, Jennifer. “Hey babe.” She sat back in her chair and ran her fingers through her long chestnut hair. Jennifer was not pleased at all that Willa had moved all the way to North Carolina away from her in LA, where she had just been recruited into the Orlando Pride Wave NWSL team. “Hi, you haven’t texted me back in hours. Too busy with all those North Carolina girls?” Willa could hear the anger in Jennifer’s voice and sighed knowing what was coming. “I have been running training and doing the analysis ready for this week’s first scrimmage.” Willa was being drained each conversation with Jennifer knowing that it would quickly become a fight. “Of course, well I have a game this weekend and I got you tickets. Are you able to come?” Willa looked up at the schedule on her office wall. “Yeah I should be able to. Will be a good game against Portland.” Jennifer hummed in agreement. “Yeah it will be good to see you, I miss you.”

“I miss you too, I will see you this weekend. Love you.” Willa’s tone was as happy as she could make it. 

“Love you too babe.” Jennifer sounded a lot more upbeat than when the call had started. The two had met when they were both on the UCLA football teams, Jennifer was a local LA girl and they seemed to be pushed together instantly. Willa found her comforting but did admit that at times she was so focused on football that she did neglect their relationship, it was lucky that they were on the same team. But Jennifer didn’t seem to mind as long as Willa was at all the parties with her, all the games and on her arm when she needed it. Jennifer was gorgeous and could have easily gone into modelling, she had flowing brown hair that had a slight curl, bright green eyes that matched the trees when they would go hiking around California. Her skin was permanently sunkissed and a rose tattoo graced the side of her forearm. As a couple they complimented each other perfectly, Willa had mid back length chestnut brown hair that was usually in a high pony tail, blue eyes that were like a royal blue, her facial scars were only noticeable in particular light like a lion had scratched down her right hand cheek. Willa’s skin was tanned after being in the LA sun for four years, her Italian background had been particularly beneficial. On her left ribs she had a tattoo of the Newcastle United badge and the UCLA Bruin. The Newcastle badge was important to her, they were her team but they never had an academy, the only one close by who had a girls academy was Sunderland, her natural enemy. Jennifer stood at 5 feet 7 inches and Willa who stood at a comfortable 5 feet 10 inches. The two were the IT couple of UCLA Athletics and he sat next to her when she was drafted to the Orlando Pride Wave, it was everything she wanted and more, Willa opted to not go into the draft, not wanting to be disappointed. When Willa received her offer to coach and be technical analyst at North Carolina Jennifer’s response left a lot to be desired, her focus was on their future in Orlando Pride and what it would mean to do long distance how hard it would be. There was no consideration for what Willa wanted, which was all too common in their relationship. 

Willa walked into the athletes dining room ready for another early morning session, she didn’t expect to see Alessia sitting by herself with a textbook by her side. Willa filled up her plate and sat next to the blonde Brit. “Good morning.” Willa smiled warmly, Alessia’s blue eyes looked up at her. “Oh hi.” She sat back and put her fork down on her plate. “What are you doing here so early?” Alessia glanced at the bag on the ground. “You know training isn't until later right?” Willa nodded, “Yeah I know, I just wanted to go for a run at the field, test some things out.” She laughed softly. “Test some things out? Like what the grass length?” She looked back into the older girl’s eyes. “Well depending on the grass length it would change the time that it would take the ball to -” Willa noticed the joking nature of Alessia’s question and the grin she was now wearing. “Ah, um no not the grass length just wanted to check the drills we had planned. Wanting to make sure we are improving on particular things.” Willa looked down at her plate embarrassed slightly about her first answer to Alessia’s clearly rhetorical question. Alessia smiled and bumped gently into Willa’s side. “Sorry, sometimes my sarcasm doesn’t translate. Is it possible for me to come with you to see the drills?” Willa smiled and nodded, unable to answer with her mouth full of food. The rest of their breakfast was filled with casual conversation, Willa discovered that Alessia had gone through the academy system just as she did, she also discovered that she wasn’t a huge fan of the tea available to her in the dining hall. Yorkshire tea was clearly the most superior tea, although with her time in America, Alessia was now very coffee focused, Willa noted that an oat flat white was the younger girl’s order.

Willa and Alessia made their way to the field, she made Willa feel comfortable with no judgement or expectations on her. Alessia felt an instant connection to the young coach, Willa took an interest in what she had to say and never once questioned why she would leave a professional contract behind for college halfway across the world. Willa and Alessia worked on multiple drills for around two hours, by the end they were both trying to catch their breath. “How were they? The drills? They alright?” Willa looked at the blonde next to her. “Well I am absolutely knackered, but I feel good and got to work on my first touch. What did you think?” She fixed her blonde ponytail. “Your touch is bloody good already, I just need your shot conversions a bit higher.” Willa laughed and she smiled. “Oh yeah? As a Sophomore I am out-scoring some of the Seniors.” Alessia put her hands on her hips and looked at the taller girl. “You won’t be playing against these girls in England, or at a World Cup. You are going to play in the best league in the world. The NWSL is dropping in quality and that's the league these players want to end up in. Not you, you have to play in Europe.” Willa said it casually as she grabbed her drink bottle. Alessia stared at her expressions, there was no mistaking that Willa was serious, she was almost matter of factly the way she spoke. Alessia was about to reply to the quite nice comment before they heard Coach Dorrance calling out. “Willa don’t keep the players from class! She is here for an education not just to kick a ball around, if her grades drop you will be tutoring her!” Willa nodded, “Yes Sir, sorry Alessia. I will see you tonight at training,I think we will be looking at some footage after the session. I want to chat to you about some plays.” Willa handed Alessia her drink. “Thanks Willa, appreciate it.” 

Alessia counted down the minutes until training, it isn't that she hated her classes, it was just that she couldn’t stop thinking about getting back on the field. Her aim was always to get better, each session added to her knowledge. The second class was finished for the day she was walking to the field, after warm up she watched as Willa explained the drills that she did with her that morning. During the drills in the hot sun, the girls began complaining about getting tired, their shots got more sloppy and their passing became wayward. Coach Dorrance called training and they all came into a group together, Willa had a grin on her face as some girls sat down and others caught their breath. “Well, that was a fantastic session. Willa has been doing some work on what we have been lacking and how we can improve. I know you girls are tired but I will let her chat to you about what the aim was.”

Willa stepped forward half a step. “Each game goes for around 90 minutes, give or take with additional time. The training today was medium to high intensity for 120 minutes. That gives both Coach and I an idea of what level you can maintain and for how long. Your disposals and shots only became detrimental to the function of the drills in the last 5 minutes. We now know that you can last 115 minutes, at a very good intensity. This is going to give us an advantage, we will also be doing lighter sessions after game day and doing recovery but these punishing sessions will give you a mental and physical edge over our opponents. In those moments when the other team is fatiguing you will remember this training and other after this and you will know you can push further. Great session, have a shower and we will meet you in the theater for a film session.” Willa grabbed the drink bottles and passed them around to the players, when she got to Alessia he looked into her eyes. “Feel a bit better with more players?” Alessia took a large drink from her bottle and nodded. “Yeah I actually got a rest.” She said slightly out of breath after her drink. “Good, you did really great.” Willa went around to other players and chatted to them, giving them tips on their movements and positioning. Alessia noticed that Willa genuinely wanted each player to be better than they were at the start of the session, she seemed excited to be involved even if it was picking up cones or organising everything for the coach. 

As the girls got ready for the film session a few of them talked about Willa and how nice it was to have a cute girl coaching them and how they wouldn’t mind getting a few one on one sessions with her. Alessia laughed along with the girls, she was very attractive physically but it was her personality that seemed to be the best part of the Geordie. The girls made their way to the theatre and out the front stood Coach Dorrance, Willa sat up the back with a notepad, Alessia saw her and made her way next to her. “Can I sit here?” She paused as she looked at the girl. “Oh yes of course, I want to show you something.” She moved down a seat. “I will be going through with as many players as I can like this to make sure I cover everyone's game.” Alessia noticed that she flicked through her notebook which was divided for each player, she got to her and the first page was full of notes on her past season. “Last season you played as a very solid number 9, the player that would be the main option for goals, I don’t want that to change but I do want to have a look at your off the ball work.” As the game footage played, Coach Dorrance showed what the opposition did that North Carolina needed to address and work on for the off season. Willa focused on Alessia’s movement and where she would prefer her to move, “It is just as important what you do off the ball as what you do on it.” Alessia was captivated as she talked, Willa was captivated by the way Alessia played. They both admired each other's passion for the sport and their drive to make either themselves or their teams better. At the end of the film session the girls started leaving Willa and Alessia walked out together into the car park. “The scrimmage game in two days, I want you to focus on getting into those looser positions, drag those defenders out of the danger areas to allow a player to come through. They will want to follow you and not be aware of the danger that is coming. Trust me, then on the next play you come around the back and get to that back post for the cross and just knock it in. Easy as you like.” Alessia stared at her. “That easy?” She nodded. “They all know you, you will be marked tighter than a compression sock. Use it to your advantage. Goodnight Alessia, great work today” Alessia watched Willa walk back towards her car, she changed her line as she got closer and walked towards a black BMW parked with its lights on. Willa’s head dropped as she got into the car, Alessia watched and got into her own car. She had no idea whose car Willa had gotten into but it appeared she knew the person.

Chapter 2

[hopetorun]

[coffee cup] sports other than hockey

i was born and raised to be a basketball enjoyer, and i very much am though i don't follow any level of basketball anywhere near as closely as i follow hockey! but i went to nba games with my parents when i was a little kid (foundational experience) and watched a lot of college basketball throughout my childhood and teens. (ncaa tournament on the tv in school also a foundational experience.)

i went through a flirtation with soccer fandom in the mid-aughts but it really didn't stick, beyond the level at which i can be convinced to watch most sports at least a little bit. really the only thing i've never been able to get psyched about even a little bit is like ... physical fighting sports? wrestling, boxing, mma, that kind of thing. golf does not compel me. tennis is just okay. volleyball too. (more fun to play than to watch, tho.) (it's possible i still have some deep-seated volleyball annoyance from years of incessant beach volleyball primetime nbc olympics broadcasts, bc the us was good at it but also a little bit like, is this just because it's women in bikinis?)

i go a little out of my way to not watch (american) football, because of ethical and health concerns regarding the sport, but not leave the room if it's on levels of effort. i can be compelled by the narratives of football, but i feel guilty about it. otherwise you can sell me just about anything with a good narrative but in terms of me making an effort to actually watch, other than hockey it's pretty much unc basketball, the olympics, occasionally the nba playoffs (my hometown nba team has not made the playoffs in more years than we need to mention but i will root for golden state in the playoffs on account of steph curry being my hometown's designated special basketball boy).

i do not feel particularly romantic about baseball. it's fun to watch in person tho.

[womenathletesinmedia]

A Rough Start To Success Part 1

To talk about today's highly decorative USWNT in 2024 & the community and longevity that has been created by their triumphs, you have to go all the way back to the passing of Title IX in 1972. Before that, the idea of female athletes was a confusing subject across the globe. Soccer, or football, had been played across Europe for centuries & women had been captured playing the sport as early as 1881, and organized matches that drew thousands of fans in England during the first world war. Despite the England Football Association ban on women's soccer, The FA, stating “the game of football is quite unsuitable for females and ought not to be encouraged,” women continued to play with any resources they could throw together. The passing of Title IX in the United States came soon after England hosted the first ever Women's FA Cup in 1971.  Before the historic act, “most of the first six decades of the 20th century, women’s soccer was confined to gym class, informal pickup games and college intramural competition.” The new era of women’s sports was finally able to see opportunities for women to play at the collegiate level. The AIAW was established in the early 1970s to sponsor varsity women's sports at colleges across the country. The NCAA eventually began to also sponsor womens varsity sport in 1982, a move causing backlash on both sides of the coin. Because the NCAA had long sponsored men's college sports, the idea that more exposure to the women's game & more funding would come with the new allegiance was hopeful,  however this meant the women's teams now shared the same executive as the men, taking away the women administration who had been apart of the AIAW, replacing them with the formally established patriarchal structures of the NCAA. Nonetheless, popularity in female sports grew across the nation, and at the collegiate level coach Aaron Dorrance was starting a dynasty program of women's soccer at UNC. When reading about the legacy of Coach Dorrance, you might find him dubbed as the mastermind behind the USWNT coming to fruition. Dorrance was the head coach of UNC women's soccer program from 1974-2024, nearly its entire existence, & USWNT head coach from 1986-1994. The credit of the first coach of the USWNT goes to Mike Ryan, who was the first to select from the talent pool of female soccer players from colleges all over the country. Ryan played an important role of instilling a sense of national pride when playing international soccer for your home country. Before this first meeting, women's soccer had never been taken seriously by the public & therefore had to learn a new attitude of playing soccer on the world stage. From there they understood the importance of the role they had just been given & the legacy of that message carries on to the team today. Before the creation of a Women's World Cup, there was the The International Ladies Football Festival better known as Mundialito. This was the USWNT’s first real exposure of international soccer, and proved to point out the flaws thus far on the team with little to show of victory. The team would go back & forth winning some,& losing others, until the first World Championship in 1991. When doing research for the first and most influential players on the USWNT such as Mia Hamm, I was shocked at how many sources I found praising Coach Dorrance as the mastermind behind the team. I don’t want to diminish his accomplishments, however I expected to find much more on the individual players that got the team on the global stage. Even in such a revolutionary time for female athletes, the man appointed to be in charge at the time receives a lot of the credit. It could be argued that the team would never have become what it is today without him. If female athletes were hard to come by at the time, then I have to assume that female coaches were also sparse. Even if the team were to only have women coaches, perhaps they wouldn’t have been taken so seriously by the sports world, or it could have been even longer until the team was able to accomplish international tournament wins.

[mrchiipchrome]

lessi at charlton🥹

[never-sated]

We've kicked for some reason...so stressed I've got a let's play going, am playing a game on my phone, and I'm drinking.

It's been 12 years since our last title and I certainly had no expectations that this team would be attempting to claw it back.

[1huddle]

Setting Standards with Anson Dorrance | Leadership and Coaching Techniques in Women’s Soccer

Anson Dorrance: A Legacy of Excellence

Anson Dorrance’s career as a women’s soccer coach at the University of North Carolina (UNC) is a testament to his unparalleled expertise and dedication. Since taking the helm of the UNC women’s soccer program in 1979, Dorrance has built a legacy of excellence, leading the Tar Heels to over 20 NCAA championships and shaping the careers of countless players who have gone on to succeed at the professional and international levels.

Dorrance’s coaching philosophy is rooted in a deep understanding of the game, a player development, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. His approach to coaching is not just about winning games; it’s about creating a culture of success and instilling values that extend beyond the soccer field.

UNC Women’s Soccer: Building a Championship Program

Under Anson Dorrance’s leadership, the UNC women’s soccer team has become a model of success and consistency. His ability to build and maintain a championship program is a result of his strategic vision and dedication to developing top-tier talent. Key to this success is Dorrance’s focus on several critical areas:

Recruitment and Talent Development: Dorrance places a high priority on recruiting talented players who possess not only the technical skills but also the mental and emotional qualities necessary for success. He believes in developing players holistically, helping them to excel both on and off the field. His emphasis on nurturing talent through rigorous training and personalized feedback has been instrumental in building a championship-caliber team.

Innovative Coaching Techniques: Anson Dorrance is known for his innovative coaching techniques that push the boundaries of traditional soccer training. He incorporates a variety of drills and exercises designed to enhance players’ technical skills, tactical understanding, and physical conditioning. His use of game simulations and competitive scenarios in training helps players to adapt to real-match situations, fostering a high level of preparedness and resilience.

Team Dynamics and Culture: Creating a strong team culture is a cornerstone of Dorrance’s coaching philosophy. He emphasizes the importance of teamwork, communication, and mutual respect among players. By fostering a positive and supportive team environment, Dorrance ensures that players are motivated and unified in their pursuit of common goals.

Leadership in Sports: Anson Dorrance’s Approach

Leadership in sports Anson Dorrance’s leadership style is characterized by a blend of vision, discipline, and empathy. His approach to leadership extends beyond tactical and strategic aspects of coaching, encompassing the development of players as individuals and as a cohesive unit.

Setting High Standards: Dorrance is renowned for setting high standards for his players and for himself. He believes that excellence is achieved through continuous improvement and an unwavering the highest levels of performance. This mindset is reflected in the demanding training sessions, rigorous fitness regimens, and high expectations that define his coaching approach.

Empowering Players: Anson Dorrance’s leadership is also marked by his ability to empower his players. He encourages them to take ownership of their development and to contribute to the team’s success in meaningful ways. By fostering a sense of responsibility and accountability, Dorrance helps players to realize their full potential and to excel in high-pressure situations.

Mentorship and Support: Beyond his role as a coach, Dorrance serves as a mentor and supporter of his players. He provides guidance and encouragement, helping them to navigate the challenges of collegiate athletics and to balance their academic and personal lives. His the well-being and development of his players underscores his holistic approach to coaching.

Successful Coaching Techniques: Lessons from Anson Dorrance

Successful coaching techniques Anson Dorrance’s coaching techniques have had a profound impact on the game of soccer and on the development of future leaders in the sport. His methods and strategies offer valuable lessons for coaches and athletes alike:

Focus on Fundamentals: Mastery of the fundamentals is essential for success in soccer. Dorrance’s emphasis on technical proficiency, tactical understanding, and physical conditioning ensures that players have a solid foundation on which to build their skills.

Create Competitive Environments: By simulating real-match conditions in training, Dorrance helps players to develop the mental toughness and adaptability needed for high-stakes games. Competitive drills and scenarios prepare players to perform under pressure and to respond effectively to dynamic game situations.

Foster a Positive Team Culture: Building a supportive and collaborative team culture is crucial for long-term success. Dorrance’s focus on teamwork, communication, and mutual respect creates an environment where players are motivated, engaged, and achieving their goals.

Conclusion

Anson Dorrance’s impact on women’s soccer is a testament to his exceptional leadership, innovative coaching techniques, and unwavering excellence. His work with the UNC women’s soccer team has set a standard for success in collegiate athletics, demonstrating the power of effective coaching and the importance of creating a positive and high-performance team culture. By studying Dorrance’s approach, coaches and athletes can gain valuable insights into achieving excellence in sports and beyond.

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∀ UNC Women's Soccer HC Anson Dorrance Retires; Won 21 NCAA Titles in 45 Seasons http://blog.collectingall.com/TBnjgk