Women’s soccer champion brings her beliefs to the fields
Olympic athlete, Ms. Megan Rapinoe, and her sister, Ms. Rachael Rapinoe, share their talent and love for soccer with clinic participants.
As a part of the Fall East Coast Tour Soccer Training Clinic, Ms. Megan Rapinoe, United States Women’s National Team (USWNT) champion, held four soccer clinics, two hosted in Greenwich, with her sister Ms. Rachael Rapinoe. The camps were held at Sacred Heart Greenwich November 2 from 8:30 to 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. to 12:30 p.m.
The company Rapinoe, co-founded by the Rapinoe sisters, offers national soccer and performance training clinics to children and teenagers from ages seven to 18 years. The clinics focus on “fun, competitive, world-class soccer for girls [and] boys of all skill levels,” according to rapinoesc.leagueapps.com.
The company partnered with Cardinal Soccer Camps for the training camps. Two-time World Cup champion and Olympic gold medalist, Ms. Megan Rapinoe, and soccer performance coach Ms. Rachael Rapinoe led the clinics, according to rapinoesc.leagueapps.com.
Participants learned performance training techniques while also improving upon technical aspects of the game such as passing and receiving the ball, according to rapinoesc.leagueapps.com.
The mission statement of Rapinoe informs people about the connection Ms. Rachael Rapinoe and Ms. Megan Rapinoe hope to make with players not only about soccer, but equality and individuality as well.
“The ultimate mission of RSC [Rapinoe Soccer Clinic] is to help people of all ages and backgrounds tap into their own individuality and uniqueness by living in the true essence of Being Your Best You,” according to rapinoe.us.
The Sacred Heart varsity soccer team assisted the coaches at the clinic and ran drills for the young players. Sophomore Megan Maloney, a goalie on the team, worked at the penalty shot station. This station helped players with their aim during penalty shots.
“My favorite part about running the drill was seeing the confidence that I could give to the younger kids when they scored,” Megan said.
Encouragement from players on the varsity team made the younger players eager and filled with confidence.
“Many kids, just like one of the girls at my station, were able to leave the camp with so much more confidence,” Megan said. “I truly think that was something so special about the clinic.”
Featured Image by Caroline Baranello ’20
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