By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- As National Girls & Women in Sports Day approaches -- the official date is February 3 -- it's a great time to focus on several Willamette University women's soccer players who have used their experiences as players and coaches to impact the development of young female athletes. Willamette's highlighted players have used tremendous efforts to "Lead Her Forward" as they've worked with girls or young women in a variety of athletic settings. They've shared their knowledge and experience with others, helping youngsters gain fundamental skills, new talents, and self-esteem.
Sydney Wilson (Jr., M, Olympia, WA/Capital HS) has provided personal training for girls soccer players during the past year. In high school, she coached co-ed soccer teams with Special Olympics.
"To me, 'Lead Her Forward' focuses on inspiring women, athletes or not, to recognize their potential to reach their dreams," Wilson said.
For Wilson, using her own experiences to help guide how she coaches other athletes has led to making a significant impact on young people's lives. This seems to truly exemplify "Lead Her Forward" based on how Wilson was led in the past.
"Growing up, I was always quite shy. However, on the soccer field I felt relaxed and empowered knowing that I had the ability to make changes in the game," Wilson commented. "The sport has greatly improved my confidence and self-esteem as a woman. Feeling like I had something to prove, especially when playing with men's players, a spark was lit within me to harness all my creativity and energy to prove that I can hang with any challenge.
"Throughout my years as an athlete, I have learned so many important lessons from my coaches and soccer," Wilson said. "To be able to inspire young female athletes and Special Olympic athletes through my passion for soccer is so rewarding. Being able to cultivate an environment where athletes can forget about the stress off the field and enjoy their time playing is so special."
Lacey Jones (Sr., F, Portland, OR/David Douglas HS) coached with Soccer Shots Portland, guiding girls ages 2-6 in the summer of 2019. She worked at YMCA volleyball camps for girls ages 7-12 during the summers of 2019 and 2020.
"I decided to take on these positions because I believe it is important for young girls to see how successful they can be in their sport if they work hard at it," Jones said. "At young ages, girls can feel like they don't belong in sports and that 'they are for boys'. Another reason why I decided to do this work was to take steps to dismantle that stereotype and help girls see that they belong in sports, too!"
Being supportive of young female athletes is very rewarding for Jones. It's a method of taking what she's learned and passing that knowledge to girls who are relatively new to competing in soccer.
"I do view coaching/teaching as a way of giving back," Jones said. "One thing I enjoy about coaching/teaching is forming bonds with growing female athletes. Through these bonds I have been able to show the girls I have worked with that they have someone who believes in them. Having a support system makes a huge impact on an athlete's success, and I want to be that support system for as many young athletes as possible. After college, I hope to be a high school soccer coach so I can continue this work."
Julia Fecteau (Jr., F/D, Bend, OR/Bend HS) has coached at week-long summer camps with her former high school club team, Bend FC Timbers, during each of the past three years. The camps, featuring players from 8 to 12 years old, have been co-ed with most of the leadership provided by female staff and coaches.
"When working these camps, I focus on encouraging players and fostering an inclusive environment where players are not put down by others based on their skill, gender identity, or age," Fecteau said.
Fecteau gets great satisfaction from helping young athletes develop their skills and confidence.
"I feel especially connected to a lot of the younger girls," Fecteau noted. "It makes me think about when I was playing soccer at that age and had many female players/coaches that I looked up to and respected immensely. As a female collegiate athlete, I think it's very important for young female players to have individuals that they can look up to and see that they have the potential to pursue soccer, or any sport, beyond a youth/high school level. Outside of sports, I feel that participating in these camps empowers and builds self-confidence in the younger female players."
One experience stands out for Fecteau in relation to what youngsters think. It shows that even at a young age, stereotypes can be overcome by the involvement of friends and mentors.
"During one camp, I overheard a conversation between two boys," Fecteau said. "One of them was talking about how the USA 'men's national team is so much better than the women's.' As I was about to respond, his friend calmly says 'well the women's team won the World Cup, so they're actually really good.' Seeing that even young kids are able to challenge gender biases and promote respect for women's sports, in general, was very motivating for me. Experiences like this remind me how important it is to bring visibility to women and girls in sports."
Hannah Deighton ('20), who is from Long Beach, California, was a defender for the Bearcats. She was named Second Team All-Northwest Conference in 2018 and was chosen Honorable Mention All-NWC in 2017. Deighton is now an assistant coach with the Eastside Football Club in the Seattle area. Deighton was selected as part of the inaugural women's internship program at EFC to involve more women coaches. As a senior in high school, Deighton helped coach a middle school girls' soccer team.
"I believe I can help 'Lead Her Forward' by supporting young girls and women with my platform and experiences to create positive and accessible opportunities," Deighton commented. "Girls and women do not receive the same opportunities or level of inclusion in so many facets of our society, but as women take on roles of leadership and reach heights, I know they will look to share with those to come. I want to be a woman in leadership who uses my privilege and power to lead.
"Coaching and teaching is definitely a way of giving back," Deighton continued. "It is also a way to stay connected and continue your passions. I enjoy being a role model, or figure of example, to those I may come across in coaching. Young girls and women want to see themselves in positions they are interested in, to feel empowered and capable to reach the goals they set for themselves. I know that the coaches and teachers in my past have encouraged me and shaped me to be who I am today. It feels only right to give back and hopefully inspire those to come."
Deighton is currently an assistant with the Girls 2005 and 2006 ECNL teams. She is assisting former University of Puget Sound head coach Randy Hansen. The two teams Deighton is helping coach include girls from eighth grade through high school sophomores.
Wilson, Jones, Fecteau, and Deighton are able to "Lead Her Forward" through their coaching efforts after receiving important guidance and leadership during their own experiences as student-athletes.
"The women in sport that I admire go beyond the field and understand that the athletes are people with interests and goals that go farther than winning a game or a race. They make time for their players and student-athletes, asking not what the athlete can do for them, but what they can do for the athlete," Deighton said.
"I have had several women coach me over the years, and I am so thankful for the confidence they instilled within me," Wilson said. "Their guidance and empowerment on the field have translated off the field into a more confident version of myself."
"I really admire Associate AD/Senior Woman Administrator Leslie Shevlin in the Willamette Athletics Department for transitioning from a coach to an administrator who knows that it starts at the student-athlete level," Deighton commented. "The equity, diversity, and inclusion work she has helped spearhead develops student-athletes to be the best versions of themselves as teammates on the field and people off the field. As a Senior Woman Administrator, she also sets an example for women sitting at the table in sports, where for so long they didn't. I am thankful for the example she sets and how she has come to support other women along the way."
The efforts of coaches and administrators have helped Jones, Wilson, Fecteau, and Deighton -- among many others -- increase their self-esteem and talent levels as they develop into outstanding teammates. The Willamette athletes have been able to provide guidance to young girls they have coached, continuing a process that leads to an increasing number of confident young women.
"Being a woman in sport has empowered me by allowing me to explore my limits," Jones explained. "My time as an athlete has been incredibly rewarding because I have been given challenges which have helped me grow as a person. I have been able to see what I am truly capable of throughout my experiences, and I have accomplished much more than I believed I could. As a result, I have high aspirations for everything I take on in life."
Deighton noted that she has been empowered "to be my best self on and off the field. We learn so many life skills and human development traits playing a sport. The best coaches will shape you to be not just a greater player, but a well-rounded person. My drive, work ethic, and connectivity to people have been cultivated in my time playing team sports. I feel empowered knowing I have had opportunities to grow and learn through sport by making mistakes, facing obstacles, and working through conflicts with teammates because those skill sets have allowed me to succeed off the field in ways I couldn't have imagined.
Although Willamette's student-athletes have made it a priority to "Lead Her Forward" and contribute to the growth of young student-athletes, they are also committed to a continuous process.
"While progress is being made towards gender equality in sports, we still have a lot of work to do in challenging gender norms and improving access to sports for individuals of all identities," Fecteau said.
