8 minute read
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
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
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.
5UP-AND-COMING SUPERSTARS AROUND THE WORLD
By Terry Jacoby
Do you want to sound like you know what you’re talking about when it comes to international soccer? Get to know these five up-and-comers, and you’ll be the one leading the discussion.
ANSSUMANE “ANSU” FATI VIEIRA
BARCELONA / SPAIN
Only 18, Fati is already considered one of Spain’s most exciting football talents, and one of the best young players in the world. A forward with great knowledge of the game, he is known for an incredible work ethic and technical virtues which helps make him stand out even at such a young age playing against much more experienced players. .
ALPHONSO BOYLE DAVIES
BAYERN MUNICH / CANADA
Alphonso Boyle Davies is a 20-year-old Canadian who currently plays for Bundesliga club Bayern Munich and the Canadian National Team. An extremely talented player featuring explosive pace, incredible dribbling skills along with creativity with the ball, Davies is a Champions League winner and is already considered one of the best defenders in the world.
MANCHESTER CITY / ENGLAND
A few years ago, Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola made a somewhat controversial decision by keeping prodigy Phil Foden at home instead of loaning him out to earn playing time. It was 2016 and Foden was 17 years old at the time. Guardiola said he saw something “special” and “unique” in the young man and decided to keep the young man at City – unlike players such as Jadon Sancho and Brahim Diaz who left to play elsewhere. The City manager was happy to bide his time with Foden, playing him just 10 times in all competitions in the 2017-18 season, 26 in 2018-19, and 38 last season. In February of this year, Foden dominated Liverpool with his pace, youth and movement to help lead City to a 4-1 win over the champions in the Premier League. Look for Foden, who joined City’s academy at the age of 9, to be a starter for England in this summer’s European Championship.
YUNUS MUSAH
VALENCIA / USA
Yunus Musah, an 18-year-old multinational with eligibility for England, Ghana, Italy and the United States, chose to represent the USA in international competition. Born in New York City, the dynamic and promising midfielder plays at Valencia in Spain’s top division, one of the best leagues in the world that features storied teams like Barcelona and Real Madrid. Playing against such elite competition will only speed up his level of play and prepare him for the world stage.
CATARINA MACARIO
LYON (FRENCH DIVISION) / USA
The two-time winner of the MAC Hermann Trophy as the nation’s best college player, Macario had a Stanford single-season record of 32 goals and 23 assists last season. Born in Brazil, she was called up to her first national team camp the same day she became a US citizen. She currently plays as a midfielder for Lyon of the French Division 1 Féminine. “Everyone gets better when you play with Catarina, and that’s probably the greatest compliment you can have as a player, that you make everyone around you better. It’s very rare that you get the complete player, and she is the complete player,” said Stanford’s Knowles Family Director of Women’s Soccer Paul Ratcliffe.
LOOKING FOR NEW GEAR? SHOP NIKE
Our friends at Nike are cornering the market in terms of producing the best soccer equipment for players of all ages. Check out Nike.com to see all of the latest releases in cleats, gear and fan apparel.
FC INTERNAZIONALE MILANO I M COLLECTION
Following the launch of its new crest, FC Internazionale Milano releases its I M Collection, which includes the team’s special-edition jersey, the first to feature the new identity. The collection’s pieces are brought together by a blocked, geometrically-dazzling interpretation of the Nerazzurri stripes.
NIKE MERCURIAL VAPOR/SUPERFLY DRAGONFLY
NIKE MERCURIAL SUPERFLY MBAPPÉ ROSA
Led by athlete insight, the boot takes on four areas of focus:
FIT: an upper that feels like a natural
extension of the foot
TOUCH: natural touch, helping athletes
to maintain control at high speeds
TRACTION: quick acceleration
and breaking in all directions
STYLE: brighter, lighter and faster
With these in mind, the design of the new Mercurial draws on the natural geometry of a Dragonfly’s wing as a guide to driving maximum efficiency with minimal weight. This results in a lightweight, efficient boot stripped to 7 key components, each made visible for an arresting aesthetic that relays the pure essentials of speed.
NIKE MERCURIAL DREAM SPEED 3 RELAYS
The sleek, fluid aesthetic is matched with designs of wave patterns characterizing quickness. Additional graphic elements connect to football. The dotted patterns denote formations used by winning teams across the years. A gridded, waved pattern represents the rippling effect made by a goal when scored. The boot is accentuated with a translucent plate and fluorescent coloring on the Swoosh that features a black and white color shift — this symbolizes the conceptual idea of past and present as a means to get wearers to their goals.
