A LETTER FROM
HEATHER MITTS Hello parents and players. I had the privilege and honor of playing soccer for the red, white and blue for 13 years of my life. My love for the game started in my backyard. My younger brother became very technically sound, even flying overseas to shoot Coerver videos. Needless to say he was pretty good with the ball at his feet. I spent the majority of those 1v1 backyard battles trying to regain possession. No wonder I would later become a defender. Not to mention our battles always ended in a fight. So, I also have my brother to thank for my toughness. At 5-foot-4, I relied a lot on my speed, athleticism, work rate and feisty spirit. I played numerous sports but was asked to focus on my favorite after my freshman year. When I said soccer, my mom was disappointed. She said you can’t play that when you are older. I said that’s okay, I love it. One of the things I’m most proud of is always following my heart and passion. Soccer helped me receive a partial scholarship at the University of Florida. I fell in love with the entire package and could see myself thriving as a regular student. I never would have expected to win the National Championship my junior year, and my doors opened to the youth national team level. I admit when I played my last college soccer game, I thought my playing days were over. There was no league at the time. Then 1999 happened. I was in the stands, planting a seed to one day play on the U.S. National Team. One year later I would be playing alongside or against all of those women in the first ever women’s pro league. At times I had to pinch myself to be prolonging my career and call myself
a professional athlete. Philadelphia embraced its first ever women’s pro team. We led the league in attendance behind Mia Hamm’s Washington Spirit. Despite being the only team without a National Team headliner and picked to place last with the youngest roster, we rose to the occasion. I landed on a team with first class coaches that would enable me to reach the pinnacle. Mark Krikorian knew in order for me to break into the U.S. team I needed to become more versatile. He moved me from right back to center back in my 3rd WUSA season. I went from playing in one national team game per year over three years to starting and playing at center back. That move helped me earn my first Olympic nod in Athens, Greece. As a result, I stood up on the podium winning my first Olympic Gold Medal alongside the women who paved the way. The rest of my career was filled with so many amazing ups, downs and experiences. I am grateful for amazing coaches, trainers, teammates and fans. I can now put my fingers on a few things that allowed me to play at the highest level. When I retired in 2013, I had played in 136 games, winning a silver in the World Cup and three Olympic gold medals. The lessons learned by playing sports are invaluable. I apply them to how I parent, to my business and everyday life. All things I hope to share with you. My husband AJ Feeley and I live in Upper Providence raising our three children, ages 7, 5 and 2.5. No greater job in the world raising my crazies. Coaching my two oldest kids has opened my eyes even more to the challenges and ways we can make this sport better. I look forward to connecting and thanks for having me.
When I retired, I saw that nothing existed for the female athlete to reach their full potential, both on and off the field. HEATHER MITTS
Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer
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