Annapolis Blues• and New Head Coach Champion Opportunity for Women in Soccer
by Stacey Coles On a frigid January afternoon, 40 young girls and Ashly Kennedy, the head coach for the Annapolis Blues’ new women’s team, gathered at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium for an Annapolis Moms Media photoshoot. Each girl excitedly received an Annapolis Blues scarf for the occasion. Before they began taking photos, Coach Kennedy encouraged the group with a team-building activity and a few empowering words. “I’m super excited to see you guys in the stands and being a part of this team…and building this community even stronger,” the mom of two said. “[You’re helping put] soccer on the map and…girls – that can thrive, that have a purpose [and can] persevere and accomplish anything that they do. And you’re going to see moments of that this year in our season.” With record-breaking season attendance, the Annapolis Blues FC (Football Club) is no stranger to making an impact. The club, as noted in its Instagram profile, values: “Community. Opportunity. Equality.” To prove it, the Blues’ leadership is ensuring the women’s team receives the same resources as the men’s team, including a coach who shares their values. “The women's team will provide local female athletes the opportunity to showcase their talents on a prominent platform, further enriching the city's sports culture,” said Co-Owner of the Annapolis Blues Jake Iversen, the president of Watermark. “Nationally, the Annapolis Blues are joining a greater movement by contributing to the growth and visibility of women's soccer, promoting gender equality in sports, and inspiring the next generation of female athletes.” The new Annapolis Blues Team will be a part of the United Soccer League (USL) W, a pre-professional women’s soccer league that serves as a developmental opportunity for players looking to go pro, stay competitive, or continue playing at a high level after college. “This opportunity unites our community in support of women’s sports,” Coach Kennedy, said. “While high
school and college athletics naturally draw excitement, the rise of this women’s semi- professional team opens doors for young athletes to build a platform that empowers and inspires. It encourages women to pursue the game they love at the highest level, playing with passion and joy in front of fans who rally behind them.” During the photoshoot, the Women’s Team General Manager Jim Gabarra
emphasized that the women’s team will receive the same resources and opportunities as the men’s team. This includes coaching salaries, sponsors, playing time and location, travel buses, and expanding season tickets to include games for both teams. The players typically range from high schoolers to recent college grads.
“Fans of soccer are gonna be able to come [to the Navy- Marine Corps Memorial Stadium] in one day and celebrate the men and women and interact,” said Gabarra, noting that there will be a few doubleheader game days on the season schedule. “We're trying to transition [the players] and get them into a more professional environment.” Coach Kennedy believes that part of this transition is developing the girls’ life skills. She defines coaching as “an act of faith”— faith in the skills of her team and each player’s growth. She credits her former coach Tammy Ellis for shaping her as a young athlete. “She found a way to connect to me and pushed me and it just escalated my game,” Kennedy said. “She influenced me to continue to further my dreams and my aspirations.
40 | THE MOTHERLODE
Powered by FlippingBook