Episode 225: 2024 NWSL College Draft, Croix Bethune, Michelle Huitinik, Ju'Riese Colon

Episode Transcript
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(00:10):
Hey, everybody, Welcome to episodeto twenty five of Women's World Football Show.
I'm your host, Patty Labella.How you doing Welcome to twenty twenty
four. I can't believe it.I know I keep saying that, but
it's the first show of the newyear, and just really happy to be
with you. And I mean,I was just thinking about twenty twenty four.
You know, we're going into oureleventh year of doing this podcast,

(00:32):
and it just feels like just yesterdayI was just starting up and came up
with this idea of hey, youknow, let's let's do a podcast.
Before when before anybody was doing them? And I don't know, it's changed
so much. It seems like everybody'sgot a podcast now. And that's great.
That's what we want, right,We want the content to be out
there in different formats and and justto I mean, it's just an exciting

(00:55):
time I think for women's soccer andfor the media outlets out there covering it
because it's not just mainstream anymore.Well it never was mainstream really, you
know, it was always the independentmedia out there covering women's soccer, but
now more than ever, with allthe different formats the podcasting, the websites,
the YouTube shows, the tiktoks.I mean, you don't even need

(01:15):
like a full site, right,can you just do like many micro sites,
I guess with TikTok and YouTube andInstagram and things like that. So
just really exciting. And I alwaysremember the amount of years that we've been
on air because it coincides with theNWSL and we started in twenty thirteen.
NWSL started in twenty thirteen as well, so kind of been riding that wave

(01:37):
along with the NWSL. Obviously wecover women's soccer all over the world,
but have a special affinity towards theNational Women's Soccer League because we started at
the same time, and I feellike we've kind of mirrored their path a
little bit with the ups and downsand you know, different you know,
different formats that we've gone through andsome of even some of the same little

(01:59):
challenges here there. So but Imean it's all working out, and I
almost feel like, you know that, I don't know if you're old enough
to remember the uh Twilight Zone episodewhere they were where they were spinning the
coin. The coin had to stayspinning otherwise if it stopped spinning, like
on the table or whatever the worldwas going to end, right. I
always feel like that, like wegot to keep the podcast going because you

(02:22):
never know, I mean, Idon't know that's that's sports, right,
You're just superstitious like that. Notthat we have, you know, any
kind of pull or any kind ofpower, you know, as far as
anything, actually, but it's justthe superstitions. I mean, I have
unlucky socks that I can't wear ongame day on various sports teams that I
have. I've had to throw awaysome socks, some of my like favorite

(02:46):
socks because they were just so unluckythey made my teams lose. I know,
you know what I'm talking about.Don't judge me, I know,
you know. Anyway, So welcometo the show. It's a very very
cool and different type of episode wehave. I actually recorded this this show

(03:06):
on the floor at the United SoccerCoaches Convention, which was recently held in
Anaheim, California, and it's thebiggest gathering of coaches from all over the
world. I mean I met likeso many coaches from literally everywhere, from
Africa, from UK, from SouthAmerica, from Mexico, I mean just
everywhere, and of course all throughthe United States, so just thousands and

(03:30):
thousands of coaches and you know,program directors and athletic directors and just I
mean it was just a great time. The first time I'd ever gone to
a convention, and I had abooth. You know, I had my
little table out, I had allmy women's WORL football shows, swag out.
I had some Hackey sack balls,some T shirts, some stickers and

(03:51):
magnets and water bottles and towels.They all went within two days. I
mean, people were just gathering themup. But it was so great to
be able to talk to people,many people people who listen to the show
and are longtime listeners. Those werealways great, and also people who have
never heard of the show and they'relike, oh, you know, you
cover women's soccer all over the world, so welcome if you're a first time
listener or glad that you're here.I hope that I got to say hi

(04:13):
to you at the convention. Andit just was a cool experience for me
because, like I said, there'speople from all over the world walking around,
and like some like famous coaches,right you'd be walking around You're like,
oh, that's there's Casey stony right, or there's Randy Waldrome like it's
just so crazy. And then ofcourse the end of your sall college Draft
is going on at the same timeas the convention usually, so that happened
on January twelfth, and we havesome interviews from draft night as well as

(04:35):
some of the recent draftees from variousteams, So I'm going to share that
with you. Oh but, likeI was saying, I recorded this episode
actually on the floor of the conventioncenter in Anaheim. But then when I
went back and listened to it andI was going to edit it, they
just sound quality was just horrible,you know. So it was just like
very you know, what you wouldexpect if you were recording in a big

(04:56):
haul, and especially with you know, thousands of people there, so it
wasn't great. So I said,you know what, I'm going to get
back into my home studio and recordthe easier on the ears, hopefully.
And the other cool thing about theconvention is that I had my recording equipment
set up, so if somebody didwalk by and they had the time,
you know, somebody who I wasinterested in interviewing, I just say,

(05:17):
hey, you know you want tocome talk to me and they say sure,
And so two of our guests todayare just they did just that.
I ran into my longtime friend andhost of one of my favorite podcasts,
Michelle Hutec. Known Michelle for somany years, and she has this great
podcast called Simply Soccer. If youhaven't listened to it, I highly recommend

(05:39):
that you do. And she stoppedby and talk to me about some of
the things that they cover. Shecovers all I mean, she covers men's
soccer, women's soccer, and justinteresting to hear her take on the state
of soccer, on the state ofwomen in media, and also heard her
soccer journey and you know what inspiredher to create her podcast is very interesting.
And then also CEO of the USCenter for Safe Sport, Jeris Cologne,

(06:04):
very graciously sat down and talked withme. Is so interesting. I'm
so honored to have her on theshow and for her to just sit down
and start talking to me, Ithought that was amazing. You know,
US Center for Safe Sport, they'vebeen around for a few years now,
and I think that they've kind ofgotten a bad rap over the years,
just because they're supposed to be theone the Watchdog, right, the safety

(06:25):
Watchdog, and you know with allthe stuff coming out with the coaches,
and they're you know, misbehavior,criminal behavior many times, and that all
came to light like a few yearsago, and they were kind of put
under the under fire for that,like what were you guys doing? But
I think on their defense, likethey are a young organization and they still
are learning. I mean we wereall duped, right, I mean even

(06:48):
I was duped, and you knowmany people in the media were duped.
How many times did I have ChristyHolly on the show completely duped? I
mean, that's what these guys do, right, They're monsters hiding and playing
sight. And so it was reallyinteresting to talk to Jeru's Cologne and get
her insights on what's happening within theorganization. What are they doing better that

(07:09):
maybe they weren't doing before. Andof course it's an Olympic year and their
focus is on the Olympics and Paralympics, and so they have this great survey
out and that's how they learn,right by asking people. And so she
sat down and talking to these veryinteresting So I'm very excited to get this
episode going, and so I'm happyto be home in my home studio for
sure. I mean it's a lotdifferent when you're in the studio and just

(07:31):
you know, talking to you guys. I feel very connected to the listeners.
But when you're out and about andtalking to a lot of people,
it's very overstimulating, you know,especially in this post COVID era that we're
living in. So it was avery it was a great experience, and
like I said, got to speakto a few college draftees as well.

(07:51):
So before we do that, though, let's talk to Michelle Uting. You
know, like I said, she'sthe co host of Simply Soccer podcast.
I think you really enjoy listening toMichelle and hearing her story and also just
the state of women in media.It's very interesting. So let's welcome Michelle
Hutink of Simply Soccer. Okay,so we're here at the Convention Center,

(08:13):
Anaheim Convention Center at the United SoccerCoaches Convention, and I'm here with my
friend Michelle, who t wo Thow come I known you for like ten
years and I still can't pronounce yourlast time. A lot of people can't.
It's such Hutine, and I've knownyou for a long time. You're
the co host of Simply Soccer,one of my favorite podcasts because it's where
I get all my LA Galaxy newsand updates and so knowledgeable and just always

(08:41):
on top of everything. We're awomen's soccer podcast, obviously, but you're
a woman covering men's sports, andalso you do cover the US school's national
team and some of the local teamshere in the NWF sales well. But
talking about Simply Soccer and what youguys do, what happened to the Galaxy
in twenty two. We're not gonnatalk about twenty twenty three too much,
but what happened to them and whatdo you see? How are they going

(09:01):
to improve in twenty twenty four?Yeah, LA Galaxy. It was from
a fans perspective, obviously the worstseason ever. I mean that's on record
as well, but from when Isay it from the fans perspective, it's
because there was the protests that thefans did at the beginning of the season
to get climb out and then yesterdaywe got the news that Kurowski is out

(09:22):
and now you got Will Coomps incharge. You know, there's a lot
of criticism in terms of Vannie's coachingand on paper, everybody looked really good.
Obviously, the injuries were the worstthat played our team, and I
think that took the toll that nobodycould plan for it, no matter who
you would have had in office.But I think that a lot of the

(09:43):
front office changes are what fans arehoping is going to be the moves to
get the bigger moves and sign theplayers that the Galaxy need. You know,
we're tired of being known as aretired league and a retirement team.
You know, the La Galaxy havea lot more competition now. Obviously LAFC

(10:03):
was the noisy neighbor, but nowwith Messi here and inner Miami and then
basically talk to Martino bringing in allhis guys and it's looking like they're a
Barcelona two point five. That thathome opener is gonna look like. There's
gonna be more messy jerseys in thestands, and there's gonna be anything else,
right, and everyone that's going there, I can't say that there's they're

(10:24):
even gonna be fans of MLS orin Miami, let alone La Galaxy.
Me LA Galaxy used to be theteam that you would think of when you
would think of soccer in the UnitedStates, there have been the Forefront is
the always leading the way, andthere's hardware and Tarvin tournaments named after the
players, and so I'm glad thatthere's the expansion, but it is hard

(10:46):
to say, like, under DonGarber's view, you're trying to play the
world's game the American way, AndI've said that and a lot of people
are saying, well, when youhave so many teams, you're gonna have
to come in with coro, Like, what's gonna happen? How how is
this league gonna be able to manage? As a fan though, let me
ask you because you're obviously you havethe podcast in media, but you're also

(11:09):
a Galaxy fan, huge fan.I've been to a game with you,
so I know a crazy fan.You arm, what do the fans think
about that, about bringing in theseolder players who are like thirty five that
maybe just have a name, BecauseI remember when when Stephen Gavart Gerard came
in. I went to that firstgame he was at everyone was in Liverpool
jerseys like, is that the fanslook at that as a positive thing.
There's mixed feelings about that, rightbecause depending on the guy like Ibrahimovitch,

(11:35):
who's like the superhuman that can playuntil he's forty something years old. You
can see that if a player canstay fit and they can bring the banging
goals, this is somebody that youdo want on your team. Like you
want a decorated player, You wantsomebody you can trust. You need a
veteran, you need the leader becausebringing in the young guys, they're gonna

(11:56):
make rookie mistics. They're not gonnahandle the media very well. We almost
saw this with Efree and Alvarez,that you need somebody who's gonna manage him,
right. It's not just the coach, it's it's the other players.
And so honestly, no, fansdon't want somebody who's over thirty five anymore.
Like I said, we don't wantto be known as this retirement team.
Part of the reason I had mypodcast is because I wanted to see

(12:18):
how US soccer was gonna grow,and especially with the women's league, to
be able to survive and strive andthrive. You know that that you want
to see. And then La Galaxydropped the ball getting a women's team.
I mean, Angel City is notaffiliated officially with anybody, but they're playing
at the Bemo announce what it's called. Still the same color as basically they

(12:41):
got the wings. You know,as a Galaxy fan, you know,
despite everybody's like, I mean they'rea Galaxy guy's that criticize me, you're
being an US A City fan AndI'm like, well, I'm not gonna
see you with the Angel City sticker, you know, yeah, and I
yeah, And I'm not gonna gonnago be a San Diego Way fan.
I'm I'm from LA. So youknow, that's the only women's team that

(13:01):
there is, and I'm not gonnayou know, there's there's a sense of
misogyny that your women's team has tobe aligned with your men's team. So
in that sense, Angel City isa neutral space where LA Galaxy fans and
LAFC fans can come together and youcan be in the stands, you can
bring your mother, you can bringyour children, because honestly, there's a

(13:22):
lot of people that don't feel likesafe going to l traffic COO and so
you know, that's that's what I'veseen, you know, you know,
moving forward to twenty twenty four,there's a there's always hope and optimism.
So tell me about simply soccert Wehave an audience here, international audience that
may not be familiar to the podcast. Like I said, I enjoy listening

(13:43):
to your Galaxy Banter. You alsohave a co host and it's just an
entertaining show. It's very knowledgeable.How did you first of all, how
did you get started doing that?You know, what kind of inspired you
to do a podcasts? All right? When everybody seems to have a podcast.
So it kind of all all intoplace when I got into writing and

(14:03):
the sports journalism in general, becauseI got connected to so many people in
the Galaxy community to see not onlylike could I work for a third party
outlet, but I saw that everybody'slike becoming entrepreneurs and they want their views
to be their own because when youwrite for affiliated company, you can't say

(14:24):
what you want to say. Imean to be honest with you, and
I'll go ahead and say it here. La Galaxy denied me and Elliot's our
house credentials because media credentials, becauseour views are too strong. When the
client out stuff was going on,even though it wasn't myself that was posting
those things. You're connected, youhave people. You have friends straight up

(14:46):
who have those views and they're allowedto share them. But I understand,
you know, we're speaking the truth, we're speaking the minds of the fans.
But I understand how that is italign with the image that La Galaxy
professionally wants to wants to have.And so you know, when one door
closes, you've got to find anotheranother path. And I didn't sure it

(15:09):
was discouraging at the time, butnow I look at it as but you
know what, the whole reason thatwe have a podcast and we do these
things so we can have our ownviews and opinions, and and you know,
we lost our own magazine. SoI was a guest for Elia's Our
House. They were already an establishedpodcast when I joined, and I was
a guest on their show. WhenI joined, what was known as MLS

(15:30):
Female than got known as Switched thePitch. So that's why they had me
on. They wanted you know,I say soccer from a woman's perspective,
especially when it comes to men's sports, there's very few women who are covering
the men's teams. Maybe that willchange. I hope it will, but
you know that's my niche so far, and so when I became a guest
on their show, they said thatI was the way that I interviewed with

(15:50):
them, that they couldn't believe thatit was the first time that I was
doing any of this. And Isaid, well, I'm a teacher too,
so maybe that having to talk topeople and being on your and thinking
and all that and being informed andeverything, it just comes naturally to me.
And so they said, well,maybe you'll have your own podcast.
But I waited like a year becauseI didn't know what exactly I was getting

(16:11):
into or how long it was gonnalast. You know, when it comes
to Los Angeles especially, it's socompetitive usually and it's hard to say with
the day job, like what areyou going to be able to do?
And I was very lucky that I'mable to manage both. And everybody's been
super supportive. Even in the mixzone. The other media members were really
helpful. They were really supportive.They made me feel like I belonged right

(16:34):
away, and they coached me withwhatever I needed. It was never like
a competitive, you know, pettykind of what they think LA is,
you know, and so I wasreally lucky in that sense. And so
simply soccer I honestly was brainstorming withsome colleagues private school I was working at
at the times at International School.We were at lunch and I was like,
you know, I want to domy podcast, and I know I

(16:56):
want some alliteration. And then literally, my friend Vinny goes, well about
simply soccer, because that way it'sit's simple. You can cover all the
teams you want. If I wantto talk about Serie A, if I
want to talk about LaLiga, ifI want to talk about I acts like
I can cover any team and women'ssoccer obviously. I mean, I'm guilty
of actually not following women's soccer untilit came to the US women's team and

(17:21):
I was able to get credential anddo that, and honestly, I put
those pieces together, I'm like,Wow, I can get credentials for LA
Galaxy, I can get I cango interview US soccer when they're training at
the facility at the Galaxy Stadium.And then I just was like, well,
then that means that I can extendit to the women's too, and
you'll I'll extend it to end yourcell and then I get to meet people

(17:41):
like you, Patty and and thenall our hurd affiliates and friends and colleagues.
And you know, that's a greatlesson too, because a lot of
people listening met, especially a lotof kids listening, maybe just like,
Hey, I'd like to start myown magazine or my own podcast, or
my own blog or my own YouTubeshow. And just like you, that's
what I did too. It's likeyou just got to go out. You

(18:02):
just got to find Oh, whodo I need to talk to? Who
do I need to ask? Andif you especially if you're dealing with soccer,
chances are they will say yes,especially women's soccer, because they want
that coverage that they don't always getfrom the mainstream media. As far as
like young creators, I think you'rea great example of what you can do
and what you can kind of become. We're here obviously today, we're recording

(18:25):
this. The day of the end. We saw college Draft, which is
always exciting because because these young players, their lives are gonna change. Yeah
you know, you don't know,it's gonna hold you know, for the
future. And it's fun to talkto them because they're not jaded or you
know, they haven't gotten to thatpoint where they hate the media. Yet
so they're happy to you're you know, they're happy to see us. How
does that tie into your podcast?So you know, how do you how

(18:45):
do you kind of balance that coveragewith what you're doing. Yeah, it's
really interesting because I'm not I didn'twant to pigeonhole my song either. I
wanted to I call the simple soccerso I could expand. And so just
I think twenty twenty three as aseason kind of you know, seeing the
Angel City at least made it tothe to the first playoff round to be

(19:07):
able to and then of course SanDiego way of coming in and making that
rivalry. My co host Christian Hamwayand I just decided we want to you
know, it's a new year,new energy. We want to stay relevant,
we want to stay fresh, wewant to be up and coming,
and the only way to do thatis to keep on top of things.
And so we're like, well,what more content can we make? So

(19:29):
then Christian and I just put ourheads together and we said, okay,
well what content. You know,He'll manage Twitter and I'll manage Instagram and
then yeah, we just want tosee what we can get, you know,
whether it's audio, whether it's video, whether it's just pictures, whether
it's networking, just to see whowho it is that we can bounce ideas
off of or get ideas from.And then yeah, propel the podcast for

(19:52):
Yeah, mentioned your social media.How can people find you on social media?
And then also listen to your podcast? Yeah, yeah, thank you.
So we are simply soccer Instagram issimply soccer underscore underscore. Uh.
They wouldn't let us just do theone underscore, so I know, and
trying to stop this, Michelle,We gotta keep fighting in the underscore these

(20:15):
days, like is it even?Is that even? So yeah, it's
really interesting. Yeah, thank you. And then yeah, of course you
can find us on x I listento you on Apple podcasts, Apple podcasts,
Spotify. Yeah, thank you somuch. And then I am uploading
through anchor, so okay, soyou can find us on day. Anchor
is a new thing. I haveto look into that when we'll have all

(20:37):
that information our show notes, sopeople can just scroll down and find you,
guys, because I really highly recommendit's very entertaining and next to my
bum for music, you guys havethe best about the music, and oh
thank you. Yeah, I'm veryhumbled by all the listeners and really grateful
to to friends that have been ableto like the music is from Bobby from

(20:59):
Las our House that together. Ohyeah we're really good. Yeah, so
thank you. So yeah we're yeah. And you know, it's funny how
that music even came out because Ihad another friend who had just in a
baseline for it and he's like,well, do you want to do it
to sound like it has energy?Right? But then we wanted to wanted
to do like what we kind ofcall like the Simples. It's kind of
like fun award show, but likekind of a mock award show, and

(21:23):
we're like, we need some musicfor that. And then what Bobby came
up with was something that we werelike, well, now we can't just
use this as like an award showing, want us to be our theme song
now? So yeah. So soit's really it's really fun how things,
how things end up connecting and changing, and people don't like think about that
kind of stuff, but like foryoung creators out there, it's like it's

(21:44):
those little things that you have tothink about, you like website logos and
music and things like that. Imean, for me, that's the foot
that's that's fun. That's just asfun as like chasing down players for an
interview. Yeah, you know,that's part of the whole. It is
a draw and people want to rebrandall the time and you know, like
freshen up their logos, and Iappreciate that, but I'm like kind of
attached to mine. No, itwas made by by just somebody who offered

(22:07):
to do it for me on Xyou know, and so I was like,
really, you're just gonna just thatsupportive and just made it for us,
So yeah, really I see.And that's the other thing too,
is you find people who do things, you know, just for promotion,
cross promotion and stuff like that.So just two ways of you at it.
Michelle, thank you so much forstopping by. I know you're very
busy, so I appreciate it andlook forward to hearing you on your podcast.

(22:30):
Simply thanks for having us on.Thank you so so cool to talk
to my friend Michelle. I callher my friend even though I don't really
ever see her much, but sometimeswe text each other, and just an
interesting person. And you heard hershe's a teacher, so that's I mean,
that kind of tracks right with theway that she just explains what's going

(22:51):
on. And also, you knowshe she's educating all of us. I
think I listened to her for myGalaxy news because hey, Michelle, all
thet Yeah, I know what it'slike to be a long suffering fan.
But it turns around, you know. So you know, teams go up
and down, some teams win,some teams lose. Sometimes you're in a
groove. It'll get better, Michelle, don't worry. But thanks again to

(23:11):
Michelle Hutin for coming on. Andso before we hear from Jury's cologne of
the US Center for Safe Sport,let's hear from a couple college draftees.
I went ahead and got a fewinterviews and what I what I'll do here
is I'll just and we just gotlittle blurbs, right, I mean,
this is just right after the draft, right after these play these young players

(23:33):
got drafted, so they're very excited. And again this is right like off
the stage, so there's a lotof noise. Apologies for that, but
I try to edit it as bestas I could and get the best sounding
sound bites. Again, these arethese aren't exclusive interviews. I always like
to remind mind you when we're ina mixed zone environment, and there's other

(23:55):
reporters there that're asking questions and theplayers are answering. Sometimes I leave the
questions in, but for the mostpart, I take them out just for
the ease of listening. So whatI'll do is I'll just introduce them and
then we'll hear snippet from the players. Let's start off with the number one
draft pick of the twenty twenty fourEnd of Your Saw College Draft, selected

(24:15):
by Utah, Ali sent Nor outof University of North Carolina. Yeah.
I'm just truly honored and grateful tobe going to the Royals and that they
are believing in me and valuing me. I think it's incredible the line of
players that have been drafted number one, and I'm honestly just so grateful to
be a part of them and hopefullylearn from them and just do what they've

(24:38):
been doing. Is their pressure them, Oh, definitely there is pressure.
I think one of the most importantthings I've been learning is to enjoy every
second and to make sure I'm stillhaving fun playing soccer and not just worry
about the pressure. But there isa little bit With Utah sometimes it's hard.
The team hasn't played yet but obviouslyexpands your team upcuring in resources.
What was the conversation like with youin Utah and a conversation like with you

(25:00):
and you know your support network aboutlike all right, this is gonna happen.
Yeah, I'm so grateful to bea part of the Utah and it's
an expansion team, which just meansa lot of opportunity and a lot of
proving ourselves and I'm just very excitedto be a part of that and to
learn from everyone around me. Ithink the conversation was just to come in
play free and enjoy every moment andlearn from some of the best coaches and

(25:22):
stuff. Hanson, Massachusetts, alsofamously at the home of the Muses.
Yeah, was there ever any likebecause I know Christy was at BC,
but you know you're at USC,but like, was there ever any like?
Okay, there's like a pathway herefor a good Massachusetts kid. Yeah.
We honestly have no idea why Hanson. Everyone's like some messy songing in
the water. It's a tiny town, but they have honestly been in a

(25:45):
great source system. Sam texted mebefore the draft, which was incredible,
And they've just been people that Ican look up to and try to follow
on their footsteps. I'm just saidlike good luck today, yeah, and
that she's just will be here byevery need any things. Growing up playing
in soccer nationally and things like that, when did you first kind of realize
that a professional career in the gamesmaybe possibly also any want to pursue.

(26:08):
Yeah. I think I really justplayed for fun and I still do that.
But I think once I got calledinto my first youth national team camp,
I was like, oh, thisis this is awesome, this can
be a real thing for me,and that just kind of all the opportunities
that have put alum have been incredibleand I'm just trying to take advantage of
all of them. But I kindof realized when I sort of started getting

(26:29):
into the national teams that this coulddo. Do you think going with a
high pick, whether it's one,two, three, that you are going
to get extra opportunities maybe if yougot to a slow start or a major
or something that the team has investedin the senior talent, and maybe get
a little bit more of a breakor something go wrong. I think you
have to earn your minutes. Nomatter what. I think every player is
on even playing field. I'm gonnawork my butt off and do whatever it's

(26:52):
gonna be best for the team.And I'm just excited to see what that
looks like. In a situation likethis, I think a lot of coaches
might point to a player's ability tobe adaptable and learn. Everybody's learning right
on the job of the new team. Just wondering what's the kind of as
you've gone through the ranks, likewhat's the coaching style you find that you've
been responding to. I really havebeen thankful to have coaches that have invested

(27:14):
in me and developed me as aperson and a player. And I think
the best part about my coaches havebeen they've allowed me to be free,
and they've allowed me to express myselfon the field and play with the freedom
and creativity that allows me to doit I'm able to do on the field.
And now let's hear from Savvy King, the number two overall pick from
THEFC out of University of North Carolina. But UNC, it's just such a

(27:38):
customing to that and that's an amazingprogram that it is. And you know,
I love UNC so much and it'sit's my second home. Yourself I'm
so happy that I got to gothere and then they spend one year there
and be coached by amazing coaches.Anson David have been nothing but the best
dur and for my development. SoI'm so happy that Ali and I get
to chance dec It was hard justbecause of how much I really love it.

(28:02):
That means, you know, ithelped me grow so much as a
person and as a player, andyou know, it's just been such an
amazing journey there in such an amazingseason. But this was definitely the next
step on in my journey that Ihappened how much, you know, I'm
so excited. Now I'm from California, so it's not too far from home,
but I'm I'm so excited that Ilove the Bay so much, I
love the coaches, and I can'twait to see where this next steps.

(28:26):
I don't know your family able tobe here. Yes, my family's here,
and you know I wouldn't be herewithout them. So if this see
that means absolute the world speed andthey need you know, they're they're might
everything. So this is my man. Yeah, I mean it was it
was difficult a difficult decision to make, but definitely they were all involved and
every step of the way, soyou know, they're they're everything to me.
They're my rock. So they're definitelyeven be a part of the I

(28:49):
would say, you know, I'mnot going through college or having only one
or two years of college is puttingme more and more you know commonplace Now,
is that also part of the equationwhere it's like, all right,
it's not a huge risk the way. Yeah, it's definitely, it's great.
I think it's great for the score. I think that it's it's a
good path run a lot of youngplayers to take, and I felt like,
just for me personally, that thiswas the best decision for me in
order to get to where I wantto go. So I mean, it's

(29:11):
it's awesome. It's awesome to beable to see a bunch of young players
paid the way, and hopefully wecan continue to do that and inspire a
bunch of realis on the new travel. This is a really good one.
The number fourth overall pick out ofBYU going to Utah. Brecon Bosingo means
the world. It literally means theworld. That's all I can say about
it other than I'm just so grateful, grateful for God, for Amy,

(29:34):
and of course and my coats justeveryone so happy. What did Amy,
Did you have a conversation with Amithat have kinds that person that thinks that
she said, I had one conversation, and honestly, I was a little
bit nervous at the end of itbecause I was like, Oh, she
went straight to business. I didn'tsee any like excitement behind her. So
I was like, oh, no, maybe this isn't gonna happen. But

(29:56):
then I got that phone call rightbefore I got picked, and I was
like, oh, my goodness,thank you so much. Sorry, it
is awesome. What are some ofthe expectations that you have that you put
on yourself? Just demand the absolutemost of myself every single day. I
mean, that's all I can reallydo. I mean, there's gonna be
ups and downs, and that isguaranteed with especially a level up. I'm

(30:19):
excited. It's gonna be a bigjob, but I think I'm really excited
to take on the challenge. Howmuch excited to just get overall having women's
soccer back in Utah professionally? Howmuch does that mean to you? And
a part of that, well,it only means the world to me,
but it means the world to thewhole community. It means the world too.
Little girls that I was once intheir shoes, you know, being

(30:42):
able to grow up and realize likeyou have a team that's right in your
backyard that you've supported ever since you'relittle, and knowing the coaches, knowing
the players and all of that,that's just so huge. Thank you so
much. UCLA Star show in numbersix overall from Racing Louisville. Let's hear

(31:03):
from Rayland Turner. Gosh, it'shappening. Yeah, I'm excited. Obviously,
it's gonna be a change. ObviouslyI've never left southern California, but
you know, it's the first timefor everything. I'm really excited to,
you know, see what's to come. Yeah, you know, Racing just
got a new coach, so forthem, it's also a new starts that

(31:25):
feel like, all right, thisis good. A lot of opportunity here
for a yell player's going to grind, you know. Yeah. I mean
from what I've heard, the peoplethat they have there are amazing, and
I'm just excited to be in sucha nice environment. Would you talk to
people about like to get the layof the land, you know, I
just was talking about everything. Everybodyasks each other like, yeah, what's

(31:49):
the deal all over? Yeah.Luckily for me, I have a lot
of friends who are I guess inmy position now who have done this before,
so they kind of know more thanI do. So yeah, advice,
Yeah, really, Just thinking aboutyour time at UCLA, how would
you describe what it needs to havea coach like Marguerite just ear leadership and
how it's affected you with going intoyour professional DIP. I would say obviously

(32:12):
Mark came in hot. Her firstyear with us was amazing, and she
just kind of created such a safeenvironment that encouraged freedom and creativity, which
I really like as a forward.But yeah, I just it's been a
really nice time at UCLA, andthankfully I was able to end my time
there with such an amazing group ofpeople. Yea, And was this like

(32:37):
for you? Was it frustrating?I would I would say it was a
lot of excitement. Yeah, alot of excitement. Yeah, I got
a little crazy towards the end,but I'm happy with what ended up happening,
So I'm excited to get going.Yeah crazy in what wayla getting a

(32:58):
little too anxious or like trying toso I don't know, a lot of
things happening. Yeah, a lotof moving parts. There are some of
your dictations that you have in yourself, you know. I guess now I
can say Louisville. Wow, he'sgonna say wherever I do end up going.
But yeah, I'm just excited tobe able to have the opportunity to

(33:19):
make an impact at Louisville and justto see what's outside of California. Yeah.
Next up, let's hear from thenumber nine overall. Pick Ali Limos
out of UCLA. She's on herway to Orlando Pride. Oh see,
la is my home, my family, honestly, your family, my teammates,
but just honestly, it's just thenice weather, the beaches. But

(33:43):
Orlando has plenty of that, SoI'm not worried. Have you thought about
life after being a student athlete.You've been a student athlete your whole life,
Like, what's that word to be? Like? I mean, honestly,
I hope to continue classes still,so I'll probably still be a student
athlete for a little bit. Buttruthfully, I'm just really excited for this
new journey for me. Yeah,what are some of the expectations that you

(34:05):
have on yourself and you're putting iton yourself for twenty four you know,
honestly, I have always been meversus me. The growth mindset. I
just each day is an opportunity toget better for myself. So just continue
to out work myself. That's whatUCLA and my coaching staff and my family
has implemented in me. So Ihope to continue that with Orlando. If
you ever, oh, thank you, thanks. This one You're gonna love.

(34:29):
This is. This is Peyton Lenahanfrom Penn State. Portland Thorns chose
her the eleventh overall pick in theend of yourself called draft. Very nervous,
excited, All of the emotions aregoing through you right now, but
mostly I'm just very part of theopportunity. If only we had someone up
here, it was like my legsare still yeah whatever, Yeah, what
was the conversation like with you onPortland if there was one about like this

(34:52):
is what we see in you?It? Yeah, I know they were
looking for somebody in my position andI liked the way that I had.
Top was looking for somebody with thesame skill set that I have, so
I was pretty excited. I hada few phone calls with them and I
ran into Mike earlier today and Ireally didn't know what to expect. I
feel like it's hard for them togive me a solid answer if they're gonna
pick it or not, which obviouslythat's just how the draft works. But

(35:14):
obviously, in the back of myhead, I was always hoping that it
was gonna be Portland, and I'mjust so excited for the Embers. Was
there anybody you were leaning on tobe like, don't let me float away
too much, so I'm thinking aboutlike Portland or whatever. Yeah. One
of my old teammates, Maddie,she works at Nike now in Portland,
and she obviously wanted me to getdrafted to Portland. So I just called
her today and we were talking andI was like, I need to just

(35:34):
relax, like I'm not gonna getmy hopes up, see to get through
today, and wherever I end upis where I'm supposed to be, and
I'm still happy to put it toPortland. So you think Maddy's watching now
being okay she's scoring, Yeah,okay, okay, And then is it
that look, last season is lastseason or whatever. Championships come and go.
What is it validating to have achampionship team go to you and be
like, we can use your skillset. Yeah, that definitely gives me
confidence. But there's so many greatplayers at Portland that I'm just excited to

(35:59):
learn, you brow from. Ithink it's a team that's very well rounded,
and there's amazing attacking players there thatI look up to a lot,
and to be able to play withthem is such a blessing. And I'm
just so excited for this nowch afteranyone in particular, Sophie's is amazing.
You know, I was gonna saythat, Yeah, it's early, but
how do you feel that Have youthought about the environment there, because everybody

(36:19):
knows the environment car you know.Yeah, I've seen the crowd a bunch
of times. I've been to Portlanda few times in my life since I
was fifteen, and the crowd isjust electrifying. The community there is just
unmatched and it's nothing like I've everseen in women's soccer in the US.
So I'm super excited to play infront of that crowd and I'm grateful for
the opportunity and hopefully we can bringsome wins to those fans. Yeah,
yeah, I was gonna say thefans are a big part of that.

(36:40):
Yeah, do you have a messageto them? I don't know. No,
I'm just excited. I'm gonna giveeverything i have to this team and
hopefully we can get another championship.Congratulations, Thank you, Thank you guys,
and so let's finish up with theWest Coast San Diego Wave chose Kennedy
Wesley out of Stanford for the numbertwelve. Were all pick and then if
you sall college draft. Yeah,I'm super excited. Staying close to home

(37:06):
is obviously a dream come true.I thought it was too good to be
true, but I'm super blessed andthankful for the opportunity. Excited to be
alongside some former Standford teammates of mine. I'm absolutely excited to just be able
to play with them, learn fromso many other new people, and be
a part of such a great program. I've been to a ton of games
already and it's it's just a dream. Cultures, So what's your mindset going

(37:30):
into you know, pre season?Now you're gonna switch from you know,
college day, Yeah, what's yourmind setting? Focusing on little incremental changes?
Sot Tinny peoples are cop Stuart mistand Honestly, I think I just
want to take it all in browfrom the training, to the coaching staff,

(37:51):
to all the resources. I'm superthankful for the opportunity, but I
really just want to grow individually asa player and the best way I can
and provide for the team whatever itis they name, whether it's on the
bench, on the field, Ijust want to do what's best for the
team and also grow myself process.So you talk to so forwer teammates,

(38:14):
can you elaborate on that? Andyou've talked to and that some of the
advice. Yeah, I mean I'mreally good, really close with Naomi Germa
and Sierra Angy, and we've alwaysjoked like I hope you end up in
San Diego, and it seemed alittle bit too good to be true in
a sense. That's been one ofthe programs I've had my eye on for
a long time. And being ableto just reconnect and rekindle with them on

(38:36):
and off the field, I thinkwill be a really great opportunity and something
I'm super excited about. What aresome of the things that they say as
far as rays see those minds sinceyou're plenty of great organization, Yeah,
from what I've heard. At least, they're a family. Although they're a
newer club to the organization, Ithink the culture is right. They have

(38:57):
a lot of individuals that want tomake the team environment as best they can
off the field so that it translatesto on the field. So overall,
I think from the staff to theplayers, there's a really great effort in
making a family, and I'm excitedto be a part of that. Deflation.
Yeah, thank you. So it'salways great to hear from the young
players right as they're walking off thestage. How exciting. I'm really excited

(39:21):
for them. I did talk toCroy Bethune, the number three overall pick
and drafted by Washington. Spirit gother right off the stage. But then
I set in on a press conferencewith Croy and I thought, wow,
this is better sound quality and she'sreally getting into depth. So I'm going
to play the little bit that Ihave a little snippet of her from right

(39:42):
after the draft, and then we'llgo into the press conference setting. And
again, like I said, thisis a not an exclusive interview. Reporters
are asking questions, Croy's answering them, but she has a very interesting story.
Well, I love to get heron the show. Maybe that's maybe
I'll put her on the list andtry to get her on the show.
Coming up. Very interesting player andI can't wait to see what she does
with the Washington Spirit. Six drafteesby the Spirit, I mean, really

(40:06):
a young team, and as weknow, they traded away Ashley Sanchez right
before the draft, and it's Idon't know, it's exciting to see the
young players coming in and but Ijust want to remind you there's been a
lot of news going around in women'ssoccer. We have the FIFA Best of
We have got some retirements and we'regonna save that from next show, just
because we have so much content onthis show cut, so stay tuned.

(40:28):
From all of that, we'll takea quick break. We'll hear from Croy
Bethune, and then Jeruz Cologne ofUS Center for Safe Sport be back after
this short break. So let's hearfrom Kroy Bethune. She was chosen third

(41:00):
overall in the NWS College Draft andselected by Washington Spirit. Its gonna be
part of a big youth push there, and so let's hear from her.
I got her right off the stage, and then we'll go into the press
conference setting with Kroy just being thebest to me I can on and off
the field, achieving the goals thatI have set and also fulfilling what the

(41:22):
coaches need for me to fill in. Have you thought about her community there
and the spirit they're really here?Yeah, in DC, I'm excited.
I love when locations have big soccerfans, so I'm here to bring it
for the Washington Spirit. Yeah,I just to follow up. I think
Draft night was amazing. It wasa lot of fun and just to see

(41:45):
things come full circle, not onlyfor myself but a lot of people there,
including Kate. It was just amazingand amazing experience, and I can't
wait to be part of the Spirit, just to get there, get settled,
and bring what I can to helpthe team. When I heard Washington
Spirit, I more so was thinkingabout being grateful for the experience, but

(42:07):
also just energy. I feel likethey have a great group of young women
and a bunch of older people onthe team that I can really learn from
as well as bring something so hecan grow as a unity. You have
kind of an interesting backstory in thatyou were raised in England and you played

(42:31):
soccer there. Can you kind ofor football, I guess can you can
you tell me a little bit aboutyour background and growing up in England and
how that shaped your you as aplayer. Yes, ma'am, so,
I was born in Atlanta, Georgia, but about the age of three,

(42:52):
my family moved to England. Welived there for about four years, and
I was playing soccer in Georgia,but I continue out there and they didn't
have any girls teams, so Iwas playing with boys, and I feel
like that really helped shape my skillin the fun for the game early,
since boys do play a lot quickerand more physical, So coming back,

(43:15):
I feel like I was kind ofa couple of steps ahead mentally with the
game than girls at the time.Yeah, I mean I spoke to Washington
before a little bit, but goinginto the draft, you honestly never know
what's going to happen, especially laterin them getting the third pick. But

(43:36):
I also got a call saying,hey, are you interested in coming to
Spirit and I'm like, of course, you know, so I second with
Kate. Just a lot of staffbeing there in the moment was amazing.
It just made us feel a lotmore welcome and comfortable than wanting to share
our special moment with us. Itwas great, and yeah, my show's

(43:59):
amazed. I can't wait to getto know her even more so and the
rest of the staff. I'm kindof familiar with your game, but for
people who might not be because onbroadcast you said a couple of times that
you're cheeky, can you explain whatyou mean by saying a cheeky player cheeky
and soccer terms, I would saycreative, a little skill set, just

(44:20):
bringing some flair and fun to thegame. Are there any players that professional
players that you've watched over the yearswho you've kind of maybe modeled parts of
your games beyond? And then whatdoes it mean to just, you know,
be at the professional level yourselves?Now? There are a couple of
players with the cheekiness. I loveto watch the Brazilians play, but there's

(44:40):
a bunch of people on our teamthat I've either played with or haven't had
the chance to play with that Ican't wait, such as Trinity or playing
with Tara Sully, even getting backon the field with Kate like it's been
it's been a few years, butwe're back in full circle. So it's
going to be exciting. Yeah,I had an extra year of eligibility,

(45:04):
but I felt like it was timeto throw the college boots up and enter
the draft. Just staying women's soccergrowing not just in America but overseas as
well is amazing. But the endof Cell is just doing so great and
growing and growing and inspiring young womenthat I this is something that I wanted
to be a part of and tohelp like keep improving. I'm wondering if

(45:28):
there was a pivotal moment in yourcareers and your young careers as a kid
growing up playing soccer when you whenit came to your like even your you
know your mind that you can playprofessionally. Was there a pivotal moment when
you were like, yes, Iwant to do this for a living.
I've been playing soccer since I wasthree, so I guess I would say
I was born for it. Butjust seeing how soccer was completely different in

(45:52):
England and the culture and how bigit is everywhere, I feel like that
has really inspired me to be like, yeah, this is this is what
I want to do with my life. Also, just being young, I
feel like when we were in elementaryschool, I feel like kids always got
asked what do you want to dowhen you grow up, and on those
little pieces of paper, I canjust remember writing, oh, I want

(46:12):
to be a professional athlete. Soto write your dreams out and then manifest
them over years im for it tocome true. It was just something amazing
to see and be able to makehappen. I just love hearing these young
players. I mean, I don'tknow, they're just so full of life
and cry. There's something about herthat kind of stands out to me.
I don't know what it is towere you able to watch your play at

(46:35):
college at USC I, you know, there's just something special about her.
And when she approaches the media andshe's very calm and laid back, very
professional, I'm like, boy,you know they USC they're teaching their players
well because very very mature, ormaybe it's just something that she's just natural
at and she's just very mature,but that spills over onto the pitch for

(46:58):
sure. So like I said,was we were on the floor at the
United Soccer Coaches Convention and very specialperson to stop by Jerus Cologne. She's
the CEO High Level Sea Level overthere at US Center for Safe Sport,
and she had some interesting things totalk about, and you know, it's
very interesting to us. Right,we want to make sure our players are

(47:20):
safe. We want to make surethat the coaches are towing the line and
they're being respectful and they're doing theirjob, you know, and nothing else.
And Jus has some very interesting thingsto say. So let's welcome CEO
for US Center for Safe Sport,Juris Cologne. First of all, tell
us a little bit about yourself andyour background. Sure, So, I
have been with the centerver Safeport nowfor almost five years, which is hard

(47:43):
to imagine, like time is reallyflown by. But before I joined the
centover Safe Sport, I was NationalVice President of Childhoo Club Safety for Boys
and Girls Clubs of America. Andthen prior to that, I spent fifteen
years at the National Center for MissingAxported Chouldren, which I did just want
every job with the organization, whichI feel kind of prepared me for this
role, particularly when you think aboutchild safety prevention, education and driving accountability

(48:07):
when it comes to abuse and neglect. And so what drew you to the
US Center for Safe Sport. Youknow, I loved my job at Boys
and Girls Clubs and I was notlooking to leave and this role came across
my desk a couple of times,and I kept passing on it, and
then finally someone said, you know, this kind of is perfect range ories

(48:30):
like, just take a look atit and just talk to the people.
And I was like, all right, all right, all right, I'll
do it. And so once Italked to the board, understood what they
we're trying to do, saw wherethey were, and really saw an opportunity
to help build and correct and growthe organization, I was in like immediately.
And so do you feel like it'sdifferent as far as like what you've

(48:50):
done in the past is into nowwith sports, because you know it's very
specific. We're at a very interestingtime right now when it comes to safety
and creating safe en by erments forkids, especially in sports. Do you
find that there's a correlation there.You said it's a good fit for yours.
Yeah, you know. I whenI first joined the center, I

(49:10):
just assumed it was going to bejust like any other child like serving organization.
We did a little bit of sportsover in clubs, but that was
it. I was in for avery very rude awakening. Sport is so
different, people are so passionate aboutsport. You know, they follow their
favorite athletes, right, they keeptabs on their favorite coaches, and they
feel very connected to the people whothey are watching every week or every year,

(49:36):
and you don't see that in likenormal serving organization. So it had
a level of just I think intimacy, like with the process and with what
we did, and it also gotpeople wiled up right around a lot of
different things, and so that wasvery shocking to me. And I think
the other piece is that I assumedcoming in that all these sports organizations,

(49:57):
every governing body, whether it waswhether it was soccer, were gymnastics or
hockey, basically operated the same way, and nobody did right. So it
was a big wake up call whenI got here to see that there was
just so much variety and diversity acrossall the sport, which meant that everybody
needed something a little bit different.Ye, we appreciate you and the work
that you do. I mean,it's so important, especially like you said,

(50:19):
like in sports, like we neverthought about it before. Right now
we're seeing, you know, theresults of some surveys and reports that have
gone out there, and it's alarmingfor a lot of us. So it's
important that we have that we havepeople like you in place that are make
it a safe space. It shouldbe right. Tell us a little bit
about the US Center for Safe Sport. You know, what is it?
What are the key initiatives, particularlyin the context of addressing and preventing abuse

(50:44):
in sports? Sure, so,we are the only organization authorized by the
United States Congress to really drive accountabilityin sports across the nation. We are
responsible for the US Olympic and ParalympicCommittee and how they interact with their athletes,
their coaches and really make maturely drivesay spaces. Who responsible for developing

(51:06):
educational content policies that I've bet manyof your listeners had either seen or ahere
to. But we also probably whatwe're most known for is investigations of allegations
of abusive as conduct and investigating andsanctioning people and ultimately ultimately removing some people
from sport who are found to beharmful. And how does that work?

(51:28):
Do people come to you or isit something like you gather information and then
go out. Yeah, so mostlypeople come to us, And so people
can report to us. We havea reporting line. You can call us,
you can email us. You cango to our website. You can
leave an anonymous report if you like. You can make a report about yourself.
You can make a report about somethingthat you may have seen, and

(51:49):
then we determine whether or not we'reable to investigate it and then take it
from there. Sometimes though, wemight actually get reports from information we gather
from New Dartles. So if wesee something that happens makes money, was
arrested, or there's an allegation ofsome you know, odd culture things,
we may look into those things tosee if we can be give assistance.
But mostly we get people and rightnow we're averaging about one hundred and fifty

(52:12):
reports every week, so it's working. I know, it's good that you're
getting reports, but it's also infuriatingthat it's going along. And we'll have
like all your information on our shownotes too soon, your website and everything,
so people can just go and click. In regards to that twenty twenty
survey and the findings, what measuresand strategies did the organization implement our further

(52:34):
enhanance, I guess, the protectionof athletes and you know, creating that
safe space. What did you guystake from those results? Yeah? You
know, one of the most surprisingthings Mark twenty twenty survey was that ninety
percent of the people who experienced abusedidn't report it, And to us,
that was alarming, right, wewanted it. So when we were thinking

(52:59):
about the sports, like what thatreport was going to do for our for
our work, how we were goingto kind of implement changes Our biggest our
biggest focus area was how do wemake sure people within the movement athletes,
coaches, medical professionals, and othersare feeling comfortable enough to come to us
with an allegation abuse. How dowe make that process easier, How do

(53:21):
we make that process more accessible?And so for us, we really spent
a lot of time on making makingour website a little bit more easy to
navigate so that you can report easier, providing more educational content around our investigative
process so that people knew what theywere getting into when they called us,
or what they what they should beexpecting. We hired resource and process advisors

(53:45):
so that we had someone if youhad a question about how things should or
could work, so you could pickup the phone and talk to someone.
And so we really focused in andon making that easier to access because we
knew after that repact of that surveythere were likely many many people who still
haven't come forward. And when peopleare ready, we want to make sure
that we make that process as easyas possible. And do you give advice

(54:07):
to programs and leagues and things likethat as to what they can do as
well? Is that something that isalso part of your work or yeah,
so you know, soccer is oneof many sports that we have jurisdic shower,
right, and so there are aboutfifty governing bodies that fall on the
US to making Paralympic movement, andthose are people who have to abide by
the Center for State Sport rules andeducational content. But we have developed a

(54:30):
lot of relationships. I want tosay we've got more than the two thousand
partners across the US and abroad whohave opted in to take some of our
educational content. They've opted in toshare prevention education content with their members,
with their athletes and with their coaches. And so that is something that I
think is super important for us becausethe information that we have gathered, the

(54:52):
educational content that we have developed isuseful for everyone, right, and so
as many people as we can sharethat with the better and so that's certainly
something that we have on are veryhigh on our priority list to make sure
that not only Olympic and Paralympic movementorganizations are able to participate, but everyone
else who has anything to do withsports has a place to go. That's

(55:13):
great to hear because there's a lotof crossover, Like like, we have
a lot of young kids that listenand they're soccer players, but they're also
gymnasts, they're track and field,they're in softball, they're playing in other
sports. So that to know thatthat that exists for them as well.
I mean, we're just not talkingabout software herer one question. No,
you guys are conducting a new surveytwenty twenty four, obviously at the Olympics,
and that's still going on probably asthis is being recorded. What are

(55:37):
you hoping to get from that reportthat might be different than the twenty twenty
Are you kind of like a stepahead, Like I'd like to say that
I'm a step ahead always, Ifeel like you are. But you know,
with this survey, one, wewant to see what's changed, right,
Like we want to we hope thatthere has been some improvement in the

(55:58):
level of trust right, the accountof ability that we've driven, that athletes
see that and then also help usto identify areas that may be emerging,
maybe areas that have gotten worse,maybe areas that have gotten better, so
that we can continually use that forus to grow and change. Because you
know, this year the Center willbe celebrating at seventh anniversary, which seven
years is not a long time,and so that we are really intent on

(56:22):
learning more about what athletes are seeing, what they're experiencing. I think this
survey is going to give us,you know, a slice of what that
is like. And for us,you know, right now, we're going
through a lot of changes internally,so looking at all the processes that we
have for investigations, but also youknow, we're updating all of our educational
content right now, and we needathletes input to make sure that when we

(56:45):
do these updates, when we addadditional content, but it's it's what they
need and not just what we thinkthey need. And so when the results
come out, how can people goand find those results? Oh my gosh.
Yeah, So we will be releasingthese results shortly before the Olympic Games
in July, and so we'll beyou know, analyzing those and sharing those
with the public. So I encourageif you if the survey is still open

(57:06):
with this errors, please go tothe website and complete the survey if you're
over eighteen and are in air inSport, and then certainly check back over
the summer to see the results andthen also the commitments that we'll make and
publish once and stuff. I'm verycurious to probably as well to you because
it's interesting because we have been inthis kind of precipice of especially where coaching

(57:29):
is involved, and you know,some of the things that we're seeing the
coaches relationships with players and it's verydisturbing. So to see where we are
after you know, twenty twenty totwenty twenty four is going to be really
interesting to see that collaboration is crucial, as you know, and especially when
we're addressing, you know, issuesof abuse in sports. How does the

(57:50):
US Center of say Sport work withsports organizations, coaches and athletes to fall
to foster that culture of safety.I think you've kind of touched on it
a little bit, but how doyou do you closely collaborate? Well,
we work really closely with governing bodiesright, and that is making sure that
we have the right policies and thelead helping them implement them at the governing

(58:13):
body level, the national mode,but also as they filter down to local
affiliated organizations, local sports clubs,and local teams. We also provide a
lot of guidance on model policies,so even if you're not inside of the
Olympic apparailement movement, you've got totindle it on how you may be able
to put certain state and policies inplace and best practices that we've learned.

(58:35):
And we also have a lot alot of free resources and educational content for
organizations to use or for parents right. We released a bullying handbook late last
year that's really geared towards parents andunderstanding the difference between you know, bad
behavior and then and then abuse rightand really focusing on the bullying component,

(58:58):
which we know is played out onthe hitch and on the sidelines. Right.
So we're continuing to put those resourcesout in the spirit of collaboration and
the spirit of you know, culturechange, because sure we are the US
Center for Safe Sport, we areone organization. We can't do it all
by ourselves. We need the partnership, and we need the support and the
help from coaches, sports teams,parents and athletes themselves to truly drive a

(59:23):
safer sport culture. Yeah, I'mexcited about the future. I mean,
I think that it's really very onthe right path, and organizations like yours
is doing great things. What doyou hope the future looks like for especially
for us Center of Safe Sport.One of these days, I hope that
we are out of business right becausewe have just solved all of the world's
problems. That's not gonna happen anytimesoon. You know. When I think

(59:45):
about this year, which is sucha big year for the Center, right,
not only will we be attending theOlympic entirely beginning to the first time,
but we are also doing a completeoverhaul. And so that overhaul is
not just for us to say wechange things, and but it's really an
opportunity to help demonstrate that we're listeningto athletes, and so as we look

(01:00:06):
to this year, twenty five,twenty six, and so forth, I'm
really excited about building more trust withathletes, because the system doesn't work if
athletes don't trust that they can cometo the Centiversity Sport and so that's the
big thing that I have my eyeon and that's my prize. Right,
Yeah, we're right there with you. Well, thank you Jers for coming

(01:00:27):
on. I really appreciate it.I'm not our little mini interview and I
hope that maybe you come back onanother time to talk about the results aboutely
be fun like it after the Olympics. That'd be great, awesome, Okay,
thanks again, thank you. Sovery cool that Dries stopped by and
took the time to talk with us. I appreciate it again. Apologies that
the sound wasn't that great. It'swas in that hall, and I'm telling

(01:00:51):
you, I recorded this whole show, and I boy, when I went
back and listened to it, Iwas like, no, that's not good.
I mean there were like footsaw gamesbreaking out right next to me.
There was a pickleball court, likeI don't know what was happening over there.
And then it was almost like aThe whole convention was like to me,
it was like a cross between likea collector's show, which I go

(01:01:13):
to a lot. I go toa lot of collector shows and trade shows,
so it's almost seemed like a mixbetween the two because they're like I
said, there were workshops going onand sessions and breakout sessions, and then
of course all the vendors there,and then I was on media row,
so we had all kinds of mediapeople there and I don't know, it's
just a great time. And Ireally encourage if you've not gone to the

(01:01:35):
United Soccer Coaches Convention to do it. Do yourself a favor and go out
there and experience it because it wasreally special. And of course the end
of you saw College Draft, whichis always great. And like I said,
there's so much news going on inwomen's soccer, and next episode we'll
we'll touch on some of that.Just just too much content on the show
today to go into it. ButI really hope that you enjoyed episode two,

(01:01:57):
twenty five of Women's Role Football Show. I would love to hear your
thoughts on all the soundbites from thetwenty twenty four College drafty's, as well
as my interviews with Michelle Hutik fromSimply Soccer podcast and Juri's Cologne, the
CEO at US Center for Safe Sport. Feel free to email me at Patty
at wwfshow dot com. I readall the emails and do my best to
reply in a timely manner. Ifyou did enjoy this episode, subscribe now

(01:02:19):
on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Google Play, tuned In, Castbox,
Spreaker, Stitcher, wwfshow dot Com, or wherever you're listening to this
right now. And if you reallyreally enjoy listening to Women's World Football Show,
one of the best ways you canshow your appreciation is to give us
a five star rating and leave areview wherever you listen. I always love
to know your thoughts and reviews arethe best ways for others to find the
show. Another way to help growthe show and grow this beautiful game that

(01:02:44):
we love is to tell your friendsand family about Women's World Football Show.
If you're listening on a mobile device, swipe over the cover art and you'll
find me episode notes including some detailsyou may have missed. For relative links
from this episode, visit our shownotes on wwfshow dot com, make with
us on Facebook, Instagram, andTikTok at WWF Show. Women's Rod Football

(01:03:04):
Show is hosted, written, edited, and produced by Patti Lavella. That's
Me. Additional assistance for this episodeby United Soccer Coaches The NWSL and Sam
Pittman at the Washington Spirit. Andthank you, especially you for joining me
on this exciting journey through women's football. Stay strong, stay mindful, keep
loving your heart. We'll see y'allnext time.

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