April 10, 2025 • 32 mins
When Jenn Ramczyk was questioned about her soccer knowledge in a Chicago pub, she didn't just walk away – she challenged the skeptics loudly enough for others to hear. This moment exemplifies the mission behind Her Game Too USA, an initiative she co-founded with Natasha Brand and Amy Kate Sokoll to create safe spaces for women in soccer.
The grassroots movement, which began in the UK in 2021 before launching stateside in 2022, addresses uniquely American challenges in women's soccer. Beyond combating sexism, Her Game Too USA tackles the alarming dropout rate of girls around age 10, when recreational opportunities diminish and competitive pathways narrow. This critical juncture often determines whether young female players continue their soccer journey or abandon it entirely.
Despite limited resources, the organization has secured partnerships with clubs across the country – from DeKalb County United in Illinois to USL teams like Flatirons Rush and Louisville FC. Most impressively, on the UK side, they've landed a partnership with EA Sports, allowing gamers to select Her Game Too jerseys in-game. The organization has also earned an endorsement from soccer legend Hope Solo.
Looking toward 2025, the co-founders emphasize education as their primary focus – teaching boys and girls alike that soccer belongs to everyone. This mission extends beyond players to developing more female coaches, an area where representation profoundly impacts young girls' relationship with the sport. Ramczyk noted, "If you coach with passion for the game, regardless of your skill level, that's going to rub off on the children."
For those inspired by Her Game Too's mission, involvement opportunities abound – becoming club ambassadors, partnering as organizations, or volunteering specialized skills like blog writing. With women's sports experiencing unprecedented attention, Her Game Too USA stands ready to ensure this moment becomes a movement that transforms how women experience soccer at every level.
Ready to support women in soccer? Visit hergametoo.com to learn how you can join this vital movement transforming the beautiful game for everyone.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
Pitch to Pro is the official podcast of Ozark United
FC.
This will be our platform totell our story about the club
and the special place that wecall home, northwest Arkansas.
This is a journey we want tobring you along for the ride.
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(00:25):
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(01:07):
Hello everybody, welcome back tothe Pitch to Pro podcast.
I'm your host, wes Harris,managing Director for Ozark
United FC, northwest Arkansas'professional soccer club,
playing in the United SoccerLeague.
Today I am excited to welcomeback Ms Jen Ramsek and Natasha
Brand, co-founders of Her Game 2USA, an initiative focused on
(01:32):
the advancement of women insoccer and sport.
So welcome back, ladies.
Thank you again for joining mefor round two here.
Let's just give everybody alittle bit of a refresher.
Who maybe just you know theydidn't see part one but uh, her
game two.
Talk about it.
Uh, and what's?
What's the initiative?
What should people know?
Speaker 2 (01:50):
so briefly.
It started in the uk in 2021,throughout the states in 2022,
but they've been a launch, um,and it's about just the equality
in the game and letting womenknow that this is a safe space
for them.
They are allowed to watch andlove the sport of soccer and be
(02:10):
a part of it in any way, shapeor form, resting, coaching,
whatever they want to be and howthey want to be involved in the
game.
This is a safe space for themto be involved.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
I think that's such a good shout to you.
You sort of mentioned all thedifferent ways.
There's so many different waysthat people can be involved in
the sport.
You don't just have to be aplayer or a coach or a fan.
You know there's referees,there's people that work in the
front office of clubs or behindthe scenes, and initiatives like
this right, or brands that youknow are involved in the game
(02:41):
and partner in those ways too.
So I love that and I alwaystell people there's so many
different ways that you can beinvolved.
So well, that's, I love that.
Thank you for that background.
You guys have been at this, asyou said, since 2022.
And we talked a little bit onthe last episode about how you
know.
Sometimes you may think thatit's slow progress and slow
(03:03):
going, but it's a big mouthfulto chew and the US is so much
broader and more space to coverand different challenges, as you
guys mentioned in the priorepisode, than what your
counterparts in the UK wereexperiencing as well.
Can you talk a little bit forpeople about the progress you've
(03:24):
made?
Like, what have you guys beenworking on so far in the US?
Speaker 2 (03:29):
So our first goal was just to bring awareness, let
people know we exist here in theStates, which it was in the
social medias and trying to poston it more regularly than what
we do, and there was always roomfor improvement on that end,
and now we're really.
(03:49):
Now this year we have threedirectors and we're really
wanting to push the educationside this year and really focus
on education of what the sportis and who's involved and how
you can be involved andgrassroots and young girls
falling in love with the gameand staying in love with the
(04:11):
game, as we talked aboutpreviously.
It's not about just loving thegame.
You gotta stay in love and bepushed along that way and not
discouraged.
So that's kind of where we'vebeen going love that.
Speaker 1 (04:23):
Well, you mentioned discouraged, so that's kind of
where we've been going.
Love that.
Well, you mentioned off camerathat you've had or maybe in the
last episode I think you hit itthat you had some clubs that
were on board that you'vestarted to partner with.
So can you name some of thoseclubs?
Will we know any of them forour listeners out there?
Speaker 2 (04:48):
You may not know some of them, but you may know some
because of where you're located,depending on where you're
watching from.
So our first club to abercarpwas decal county united.
They're in a suburb of chicago.
They're about an hour outsideof chicago.
They were the very first clubto sponsor or partner with us,
but full disclosure.
I worked for them as well I'mtheir graphic designer, so kind
of had it in with that club, butstill they partnered with us.
(05:12):
Um.
Then we have in eau claire,wisconsin bateau fc.
Um, and they actually happenedto reach out to me.
Like they saw the campaign andreached out to me.
Not I had to go to that whichyeah, that doesn't happen every
day and nor is I expect that toreally happen ever again, but
it's great that we have that um.
And then there's nj14 uh in newjersey dot soccer, state line
(05:39):
south I mean state line sc forsoccer club, which confuses me.
And then we have Flatirons Rush.
They're a USL team in Coloradoand a big shout out to them.
They last year had a dedicatedfixture for us at her game too.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
I love that.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
I flew to Colorado was at the game, for the game
and then flew home, likeliterally just flew to Colorado
for the game, then flew homelike nobody, just flew, probably
around before the game and flewhome.
That's my dedication for hergame too.
Um.
And then we have junction fc,the women's game, uh, which
they're in actually they're notthat far from here, they're,
they're closer than I am um,they're in the bloomington area
(06:22):
of ill, illinois.
And then we have Dynamo FC.
We have Louisville FC inLouisville, kentucky, or
Louisville, tennessee, and againthat's a USL team and that's
the women and men's the women'srecommitted to be a partner with
us in the States.
The men haven't let me knowthat they would like me to do
(06:43):
that.
They did partner with the UKgroup.
So me to do that, they didpartner with the uk group.
So in a sense they did partnerwith us, yeah, um.
And then the last one I want tomention is it's not a
partnership but it's a hugeendorsement is hope, solo,
endorsing her game too, and ourmet, our campaign and what we
stand for.
Speaker 1 (07:02):
So I, I love that, I love that.
So, you know, starting tocontinue to educate and make
people aware, you're starting tofind, you know, some support
with clubs, whether it be youth,whether it be in the pro space.
You know, are there any otherpartners that you guys that we
would know of that are startingto pick up on the Her Game 2
(07:24):
movement?
Speaker 3 (07:24):
That's a great local partner.
So Ozark Hellbenders, our OzarkUnited FC supporters group.
I love that stepped up to beour first Arkansas partnership,
oh wow.
And obviously I have an inbecause I'm on the starting 11,
the leadership, so maybe Iguilted them into it, you know.
(07:46):
But that's really great forArkansas because I think that
sets the stage for the teams andthe grassroots teams around to
pick up.
And we've been talking toseveral referee associations,
state associations for the refs.
So I think that is somethingthat we're looking at next and
then, leading on from that isour website has a reporting
(08:08):
system so you can log on if youhave experienced abuse in any
shape or form.
You know whether you're areferee, a fan, at any level of
game, and it will come to us asthe lead team, and one of our
background things that is takingtime is there is not many of us
on our lead team to deal withthe report, so we would mediate
(08:31):
the clubs and organizations ifthis happened.
So, for example, if a refereehad put in a report that they
didn't they didn't feelcomfortable going to the state
association with we could thenmediate for them between them
and the state association.
So that's the other thing.
Um, in tandem with theeducation part, that we're
really working on is thereporting system and being there
(08:52):
to support women that are ofencountered abuse that's.
Speaker 1 (08:57):
That's great.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
Um did I see an ea partnership announced recently
yes, yes, so EA Sports, if youplay the game, if you play FIFA,
you can actually choose hergame 2 jersey and actually the
billboard going around says hergame 2.
Actually, we've had requests,or I've had requests.
(09:19):
I don't know if they have it inthe UK yet, but I'm working on
bringing it live.
So the jersey they're wearingin the uk yet, but I'm working
on bringing it live.
Um, so the jersey they'rewearing in the game, if you've
ever played the game.
A lot of people have asked canwe get that jersey?
oh, wow um, so I would love toproduce that jersey and sell it
and then on one thing about fora non-profit.
(09:39):
So if we could do that and sellit, that money would go right
back to grassroots Buying themcleats if they need it, helping
with club fees that they need it, whatever, you know that's
where.
So one day we would love to getthere.
We're really supporting thegrassroots, not just bringing
(10:00):
awareness and helping themthrough it, but actually
physically spot showing them.
Hey, here you are that's socool.
Speaker 1 (10:08):
I mean it's the most played, I think one of the most
played video games.
I don't want to speak out ofturn.
One of the most played videogames is uh, formerly, you know
fifa, whatever the year is yeahnow they.
They removed the fifa tag, didnthey, I think?
Speaker 2 (10:24):
it's EA 25, something like that big video game person
, but it's exposure.
Speaker 1 (10:33):
I've only recently rediscovered with kids, but it's
been a while, but there weretimes I would play.
That actually used to be a wayfor me to connect with friends
that I no longer lived in thesame area with.
We were at different schools ordifferent areas and at a minute
and we'd text each other FIFA10 minutes, like play a 10
(10:54):
minute game, and then you'd talkthrough the headset.
So, anyway, game connects in alot of ways.
Yeah, yeah, so you started tohit on some of your you know and
we talked about this last timetoo like the issues that are,
you know, a little bit differentthan what they were
experiencing in the UK, but inthe same vein, still part of the
same movement and the ultimategoal of what you know you guys
(11:16):
are trying to work towards,which is advancement of women in
sport.
Yes, and what are some of thosethings in the US that maybe are
kind of the most common thatyou guys run into or see or
experience?
Speaker 2 (11:34):
So we can both speak on this.
But from my side it's thequestioning whether I know the
game.
It's asking me questions toprove that I know the game.
So the number one question iswell, you got to explain off
sides before I under trust thatyou know the game.
So me being a little sassysometimes.
Speaker 1 (11:57):
As you should be.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
Yeah, I turned and asked them do I need to explain
it?
You don't understand it.
Speaker 3 (12:03):
Oh, that showed up pretty quickly.
Speaker 2 (12:07):
And then I was that was at a pub in Chicago, and
pretty much after that nobodyquestioned why I was sitting
there to watch my games.
I love that, but I said it kindof loudly too, so that people
looked at them.
Speaker 1 (12:21):
I wanted to embarrass them to be honest.
Speaker 2 (12:25):
But so that's, I think, for me and that was part
of why I wanted to bring it,because I was talking to other
people and they were havingthose same experiences it's the
questioning whether we know itor questioning why would you
like it?
Like, is it just for the boysto watch the boys today, or to
get the boys to look at you,kind of thing, and it has
(12:47):
nothing to do with that.
Like, that's not why we go intothat.
Now there might be a handfulwho do go into it for that
they're always going to be, butfor the majority, most girls are
watching the sport because theylove the sport, not for who
they're looking at.
Speaker 3 (13:05):
I think to that end in the UK, like we said, it
started very much about thesexism and the fans and slowly
rolled into equality across theboard for girls getting into the
game and then then we'd, likewe said, the staff, the players,
refs, fans, parents, dads ofgirls uh, we've got a couple of
(13:25):
grassroots um players, dads, ummale coaches of girls teams.
They're really getting involvedon this and I think.
But the important thing as wellhere is the dropout rate of I
mean, I know that is not justgirls but ending rec and not
having anything in the juniorhigh level, particularly in this
(13:47):
area it varies across thestates.
But keeping girls involvedthrough high school if there's
not opportunities for club inthe area, but really keeping
them involved past 10 or so whenthey get out from that rec,
what have we got to them?
What is there for them to moveinto?
And I know you've spoke beforeon the podcast about this that
(14:10):
next level.
And so we want to be there, wewant to be Hug M2 USA to be that
support for equality for thegirls.
So I think it's more now for usin the US, less about the
sexism side it's still thereincluded but much more about
opportunities for girls andsupporting them across the board
(14:30):
, and that is, like we said,education, getting resources and
information into school, thereporting system for referees
and players there's.
there's a lot that we want to dohere, and so it's overwhelming
at some point there's you know,there's like there's too much
just a small job too much to doand I think you know there's
(14:51):
there's so many if you're a dadof a girl, if you've experienced
abuse as a fan or you know in apub.
There's so many angles to itand so much growth for it, and
so you know we are such a bigcountry.
We really need more people onboard with Her Game 2.
And I feel fans as well, morefemale fans, coming together to
(15:14):
support Creative activity, evenif you're not the same city
state.
Speaker 2 (15:19):
you know, hey, I can watch.
Watched this game with myfriend who was in three states
over, but we're texting eachother while the game's going on.
That camaraderie needs tohappen as well because, yeah, I
don't know many women my age whowatch soccer.
I, I think I'm a rarity in myarea, my hometown, which is a
(15:41):
low town.
It's me and my dad, that's allI know of, is soccer fans.
So it is trying to get thecommunity for women to feel like
, hey, this is for me.
Speaker 3 (15:53):
I can watch this sport and it's different across
the country.
It's very different what weexperienced in Arkansas.
We're very lucky in our littlepocket of Arkansas where we've
got quite a lot of socceropportunities.
Now it wasn't always that wayfor the girls We've had, like.
One of the things I think totalk about with the education
side is we had points over thelast five years where we
(16:14):
couldn't form an age group teamfor the girls and that makes
things really difficult and thatis that's adding to the
attrition rate and the dropoutrate before they get to junior
high, because if they're havingto scrape around trying to find
girls from other teams combiningteams, combining age groups
that's hard, that they're goingto stop getting despondent and
(16:35):
then not want to play.
So I feel I feel education andjust getting more interest in
the game that's as important asthe sexist.
Yeah, honestly.
Speaker 1 (16:46):
Absolutely.
Speaker 3 (16:46):
Falling in love with the game.
Yeah, that's what we want.
We want them to love it as muchas we do.
And so, yeah, getting moreambassadors across the country
and also people willing to helpwith all these the wheels and
cogs.
In the background there's a lotand there is, yeah, hoping for
(17:07):
visibility and more like-mindedpeople out there to really get
this message and hit thegrassroots teams, make these
girls feel valued yeah.
Speaker 1 (17:18):
So what's?
You started talking about it alittle bit, but as you look
forward, you know there'sthere's so much to chew off and
and and and chew on.
I should say to you know youbite off more than you chew,
whatever the saying is, butthere's so much to be done and
(17:38):
at some level that's a littlebit disheartening but also
speaks to the need to the workand, on the positive side, the
opportunities of completing thatwork and bringing the culture
and the populace to a betterplace collectively.
(17:59):
But what are you guys lookingfor?
You know what's next, what's onthe immediate horizon for you
guys.
Speaker 2 (18:08):
So in 2025, we actually had our meeting with
very, you know, high levelpeople, people and a few of our
ambassadors who have been on thecall, and our goal for 2025 is
going to be education, education, education, because we believe
that's where it starts.
We've got to start educatingand trying to get into the
(18:30):
schools and get the young onesand it's not just educating the
girls, it's educating the boysas well, educating them that
this game is for everyone.
Because a little side notestory, but it's relevant is a
eight-year-old girl was told byan eight-year-old boy that she
wasn't allowed to play the game.
(18:51):
Now, that should not happen atthat age, and that's where
education is going to come in.
That she wasn't allowed to playthe game, now, that should not
happen at that age, and that'swhere education is going to come
in.
Like I said, not just for thegirls, for the boys to realize
this is for everybody.
So that's our number one focusis education.
I think the number two focus isgetting that funding.
(19:12):
However, we may need to getthat In the next couple months,
we're going to be having afunding page right on our
website so people can fund, towrite to us and now we can help
the grassroots, because that'swhere it starts, that's where
the kid falls in love with thegame, and just for the love of
the game and not anything else.
So that's for me, that's.
(19:35):
What we mainly talked about wasthose two things grassroots
education.
Speaker 3 (19:38):
And then I think, thirdly, on that is more this
podcast, for example, gettingvisibility out there to hoping
that some of these clubs willsee and they'll want to stand
alongside us.
So a partnership we have a clubpartnership packet that we can
get out.
We can talk to um club ownersand explain to them, like, what
(19:59):
that means for the club to standby her game too and, uh, be
aligned with us.
So that's no money to be, itcosts no money.
It's as expensive or cheap asthe club wants it to, as you
want want it to be.
So it's manageable for agrassroots club, it's manageable
for a rec league, it'smanageable for a state
association, a USL team, itdoesn't matter.
(20:20):
An academy you can buy stuff touse, you don't have to.
But just having a girls teambeing able to have our badge,
the Her Game 2 patch, on theirjerseys, have dedicated fixtures
for their games, when a clubaligns with her game 2, that
(20:41):
it's, it's important, and itstarts at those grassroots, yeah
, ages and I think um, and youguys would be able to speak more
to this too there's and you'llprobably just say yes, there's
so much to do, and that's one ofthem, um is more female coaches
(21:05):
and opportunities absolutelywhen there are coaches, they're
not questioned about thecoaching ability as of their sex
, Because even in our video ifyou've watched our video one of
them is I don't want my childcoached by a girl.
Speaker 2 (21:22):
That is one of the comments.
So you're right, that isanother.
Speaker 1 (21:26):
Because I think too and I think that this is a
general statement aroundcoaching, education in the youth
game today that there's so muchopportunity there, um, and it's
.
It's not necessarily because,yeah, people don't know what
they're doing per se and theywant to just jump out there and
(21:47):
help and like that's great, um,so bringing some level of
consistency as to what are themain tenets of the game that
we're trying to get across anddo.
But I think the other piece ofit is when kids have a good
experience with their coach andthat coach.
It's much more for me,especially at the grassroots
level, less about teaching thegame the right way, but more
(22:09):
around providing an environmentwhere kids can fall in love with
each other yeah.
And they're much more likely todo that when they have a role
model coach.
That is, oh, I see myself inthat.
Yeah Right, representationmatters so much, and so that is
(22:34):
something just in general.
But then, even more important,on the girl's side, within the
attrition and the participationrates and all of those things
that I think you guys can be abig advocate for and I know you
are already but one of thethings that, again, as a father
(22:54):
of daughters, I, you know Ijumped in to help coach my
daughter's team because, therewasn't enough coaches and I was
actually hoping that, notbecause I don't want to coach my
daughter, but I actually I wasthe opposite.
(23:16):
I would have preferred for herto have an amazing female coach
and have that for her and bethat her experience.
Speaker 2 (23:23):
So yeah, and then probably help her fall in love
with it because she sees anothergirl or a lady through those.
Because if you coach withpassion of the game, regardless
of your skill level game, ifyou're coaching with passion,
that's going to rub off on thechild or the children.
So yeah.
Speaker 1 (23:41):
If my daughter ever sees this.
I love you, baby, I lovecoaching your team.
I don't want you to get thewrong idea.
It's just that you know, like Isaid, I I know she'll get that
eventually and she does get thatat practice every day.
Shout out to coach LesliePlatts Phenomenal, phenomenal
coach, who runs their age grouptraining sessions.
(24:03):
I get them on Saturdays forgame day, so, but I just I think
what you guys are doing is soimportant and I'm really glad
that you mentioned kind of theways that that's what I wanted
to focus on now is ways thatpeople can get involved, whether
that's I mean, you guys talkedabout it but whether that's as a
(24:24):
partner, as a behind the scenesvolunteer.
You know how, how do youencourage people in different
ways that they can get involved?
Speaker 2 (24:32):
So, yeah, they can get.
On our website, theherdium2.com.
There is a page and it's youfill out a form about being
involved that you want to getinvolved in what involved that
you want to get involved andwhat level do you want to get
involved?
Do you want to be an ambassador?
So like an ambassador, justquickly, ambassador is someone
(24:53):
who they support that club.
So like for me, I'm a Liverpoolfan and this is just
hypothetical because obviouslyI'm not in the UK.
There was like a Liverpool FChere that lived near me and I
was going to all the games I canapply to be and I say apply,
but it's just because you'refilling out an application, kind
of thing.
But you say, hey, I would loveto be an ambassador for
(25:13):
Liverpool.
And then us as a lead team lookat it.
We talk to the person, seetheir commitment level and
everything, and then we go, okay, here the ambassador, um, and
then the ambassador is ourlifeline to the club.
So that now we've extended andit's not just the team, the
(25:33):
directors who are look, tryingto get that team to partner it's
that ambassador's role to bethat person to talk to the club.
So they look and find who's theright person to talk to and all
that um, and there's some teamsthat have two ambassadors, one
for the club, the one for thesupporter club.
Just because they're twoentities and you want to keep
(26:12):
them separate, this move so, uh,so that there's that way,
there's the ambassador.
Yes, you do to be a part ofthis.
So a club can go online and say,hey, I'm xyz club and I really
support this message and wouldreally like to partner.
And then I usually have aconversation with them of, okay,
you want to do this, but do youhave somebody that can be your
(26:35):
ambassador?
Because we want somebody.
Like if someone reportssomething, if there's an
ambassador, then that ambassadorgets to take it up with the
club and that it relieves thepressure from the directors of
having to do all the work.
So you've got that and, like wesaid, the partnership is as
cheap or as expensive as youwant it to be.
(26:55):
Like we have a form and we listout possibilities of what you
can do as a partner and you cantake all of them.
You can do one Like DeKalbCounty United.
They just have a graphic bannerthat says DKCU plus her game
two and that's it, and it's atthe ground where they play, so
everybody sees it.
And they make sure they put itright at the entrance, so
(27:16):
literally everybody sees it,which I'm totally good because
that's again exposure.
So you have those two ways.
And then we actually had a girlreach out and she wanted to be
a part of it, but she had noclub and she wanted to know how
she could be involved.
(27:37):
And I'm like, well, what do youlike doing?
How she could be involved.
And I'm like, well, what do youlike doing?
And so we talked to him aboutthat and then figure out, okay,
what is your avenue?
Because there are.
I mean, I would love for ourwebsite to have a blog every two
weeks or something.
So if somebody is a great writerand can write on their
(27:58):
experiences in the game, come onboard, do that.
You know you don't have toexperiences in the game.
Come on board, do that.
You know you don't have to bein the public eye, or you don't
have to be going to a club andtry to convince them to be a
partner.
There's other behind-the-scenesthings they can do.
They just have to reach out tous and our website and say
here's my skill set, I'd reallylike to be involved, I love what
(28:19):
you guys are doing.
And then we as, uh, the threedirectors will go oh, okay,
let's have a conversation withthem.
Let's see what where this takesus yeah with the size of the
country.
Speaker 3 (28:31):
We need visibility for the campaign and we need a
podcast and a blog.
There's there's only so muchthere's so much you can.
And we don't have the skill setfor all of us, and so that's a
great way to be involved.
Contact the amount of clubs wehave in the US.
Speaker 1 (28:49):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 3 (28:50):
It's just we are only able to.
You know, we're trying toconcentrate on our local areas
this year and build out, and weneed the visibility for people
to see this and hop on board.
Speaker 1 (29:01):
So we just keep adding more.
Speaker 3 (29:05):
Don't we?
Speaker 1 (29:06):
yes, we do but I I mean, one of the things that I'm
really excited about is thelaunch of the usl super league
and the continued uh, you knowwork that that league is doing
and, god willing, we're able toyou that to Northwest Arkansas
as well, and we have.
(29:27):
I think there's almost 40,000women, female college soccer
players across the whole leagueD1, d2, d3, juco and up until
the start of the USL SuperLeague, there were 12, 14 NWSL
teams that maybe needed threeroster positions every year for
(29:47):
the.
You know, you can do math, yeah, like that's just, you hit an
absolute wall after playingcollege.
And how do we continue toprovide those opportunities and
it's not just professionally,but especially grassroots and
get them involved and in lovewith the game, but also then
allow them to pursue their dreamand passion no different than
(30:08):
they can on the boys' side,exactly?
Speaker 3 (30:10):
And we definitely want to hit the college teams as
well.
So, I think that's going to befantastic to have college
players as role models.
Speaker 1 (30:18):
Absolutely, you know so.
Absolutely, I mean.
That's the I mean.
And what shout out to the U ofA and what coach Colby Hale has
been able to do with thatprogram, colby Hale?
Speaker 3 (30:30):
we need to talk.
Speaker 1 (30:32):
But there, I mean it's just, it's phenomenal for
girls in this area even to takemy daughters to those games.
They're top five, top 10 teamin the country and you know the
experience there, the attendancethat they get there is
incredible.
I mean, the support for women'ssport is, you know, at an
all-time high.
So I mean you guys are rightthere doing such important work.
Speaker 2 (30:50):
That's why I'm wearing my shirt Support women's
sports.
Speaker 1 (30:54):
Everyone watches women's sports.
That's what I love, yeah.
Speaker 3 (31:03):
We've what I love.
Yeah, we've had a lot of ballgirl, ball boy opportunities
with U of A.
Oh love that, and so we'd liketo see that's something that we
would like to see with um notonly her game, two um games but,
be able to have all ball boys,ball girls um yeah, in in
branded shirts, and that'sanother way, another way.
So there is just a lot.
So we need help.
Please help us.
Speaker 1 (31:24):
Her game to USA.
Her game to Her game her gametocom, her game to USA on
socials.
Speaker 3 (31:31):
Yep.
Speaker 1 (31:32):
Thank you, Natasha, Thank you, Jen, so much for
joining me.
I applaud your efforts and yourwork is so needed and I wish it
wasn't, but it is so needed andthank you so much for all that
you're doing, uh, on behalf ofmy daughters and girls and
everywhere.
So thank you, Thanks for havingus.
That's it for this episode ofpitch to pro.
(31:52):
We hope you enjoyed it.
Be sure to catch all theepisodes on pitch to procom or
look for picture pro on Spotify,YouTube, Apple, wherever you
get your podcasts for morecontent.
Until next time.
Cheers, Northwest Arkansas.
Thanks for joining us on thisepisode of the Pitch the Pro
podcast.
Be sure to tune in again in twoweeks for the next installment
and check out the Stoppage Timeseries for a recap of today's
(32:14):
episode.
Be sure to find us at Pitch thePro on YouTube, Instagram and
everywhere you get your podcasts.
Until next time, NorthwestArkansas cheers.
Pitch to Pro is the official podcast of Ozark United
FC.
This will be our platform totell our story about the club
and the special place that wecall home, northwest Arkansas.
This is a journey we want tobring you along for the ride.
We'll share what's going onbehind the curtain, help educate
the community at large aboutsoccer, our league, and give
(00:25):
updates on the progress of theclub along the way.
Together, we'll explore andunpack our journey to
professional soccer, the magicthat is NWA, our community, and
talk all things soccer from onthe pitch to behind the scenes,
telling the story of our club.
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(00:46):
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(01:07):
Hello everybody, welcome back tothe Pitch to Pro podcast.
I'm your host, wes Harris,managing Director for Ozark
United FC, northwest Arkansas'professional soccer club,
playing in the United SoccerLeague.
Today I am excited to welcomeback Ms Jen Ramsek and Natasha
Brand, co-founders of Her Game 2USA, an initiative focused on
(01:32):
the advancement of women insoccer and sport.
So welcome back, ladies.
Thank you again for joining mefor round two here.
Let's just give everybody alittle bit of a refresher.
Who maybe just you know theydidn't see part one but uh, her
game two.
Talk about it.
Uh, and what's?
What's the initiative?
What should people know?
Speaker 2 (01:50):
so briefly.
It started in the uk in 2021,throughout the states in 2022,
but they've been a launch, um,and it's about just the equality
in the game and letting womenknow that this is a safe space
for them.
They are allowed to watch andlove the sport of soccer and be
(02:10):
a part of it in any way, shapeor form, resting, coaching,
whatever they want to be and howthey want to be involved in the
game.
This is a safe space for themto be involved.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
I think that's such a good shout to you.
You sort of mentioned all thedifferent ways.
There's so many different waysthat people can be involved in
the sport.
You don't just have to be aplayer or a coach or a fan.
You know there's referees,there's people that work in the
front office of clubs or behindthe scenes, and initiatives like
this right, or brands that youknow are involved in the game
(02:41):
and partner in those ways too.
So I love that and I alwaystell people there's so many
different ways that you can beinvolved.
So well, that's, I love that.
Thank you for that background.
You guys have been at this, asyou said, since 2022.
And we talked a little bit onthe last episode about how you
know.
Sometimes you may think thatit's slow progress and slow
(03:03):
going, but it's a big mouthfulto chew and the US is so much
broader and more space to coverand different challenges, as you
guys mentioned in the priorepisode, than what your
counterparts in the UK wereexperiencing as well.
Can you talk a little bit forpeople about the progress you've
(03:24):
made?
Like, what have you guys beenworking on so far in the US?
Speaker 2 (03:29):
So our first goal was just to bring awareness, let
people know we exist here in theStates, which it was in the
social medias and trying to poston it more regularly than what
we do, and there was always roomfor improvement on that end,
and now we're really.
(03:49):
Now this year we have threedirectors and we're really
wanting to push the educationside this year and really focus
on education of what the sportis and who's involved and how
you can be involved andgrassroots and young girls
falling in love with the gameand staying in love with the
(04:11):
game, as we talked aboutpreviously.
It's not about just loving thegame.
You gotta stay in love and bepushed along that way and not
discouraged.
So that's kind of where we'vebeen going love that.
Speaker 1 (04:23):
Well, you mentioned discouraged, so that's kind of
where we've been going.
Love that.
Well, you mentioned off camerathat you've had or maybe in the
last episode I think you hit itthat you had some clubs that
were on board that you'vestarted to partner with.
So can you name some of thoseclubs?
Will we know any of them forour listeners out there?
Speaker 2 (04:48):
You may not know some of them, but you may know some
because of where you're located,depending on where you're
watching from.
So our first club to abercarpwas decal county united.
They're in a suburb of chicago.
They're about an hour outsideof chicago.
They were the very first clubto sponsor or partner with us,
but full disclosure.
I worked for them as well I'mtheir graphic designer, so kind
of had it in with that club, butstill they partnered with us.
(05:12):
Um.
Then we have in eau claire,wisconsin bateau fc.
Um, and they actually happenedto reach out to me.
Like they saw the campaign andreached out to me.
Not I had to go to that whichyeah, that doesn't happen every
day and nor is I expect that toreally happen ever again, but
it's great that we have that um.
And then there's nj14 uh in newjersey dot soccer, state line
(05:39):
south I mean state line sc forsoccer club, which confuses me.
And then we have Flatirons Rush.
They're a USL team in Coloradoand a big shout out to them.
They last year had a dedicatedfixture for us at her game too.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
I love that.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
I flew to Colorado was at the game, for the game
and then flew home, likeliterally just flew to Colorado
for the game, then flew homelike nobody, just flew, probably
around before the game and flewhome.
That's my dedication for hergame too.
Um.
And then we have junction fc,the women's game, uh, which
they're in actually they're notthat far from here, they're,
they're closer than I am um,they're in the bloomington area
(06:22):
of ill, illinois.
And then we have Dynamo FC.
We have Louisville FC inLouisville, kentucky, or
Louisville, tennessee, and againthat's a USL team and that's
the women and men's the women'srecommitted to be a partner with
us in the States.
The men haven't let me knowthat they would like me to do
(06:43):
that.
They did partner with the UKgroup.
So me to do that, they didpartner with the uk group.
So in a sense they did partnerwith us, yeah, um.
And then the last one I want tomention is it's not a
partnership but it's a hugeendorsement is hope, solo,
endorsing her game too, and ourmet, our campaign and what we
stand for.
Speaker 1 (07:02):
So I, I love that, I love that.
So, you know, starting tocontinue to educate and make
people aware, you're starting tofind, you know, some support
with clubs, whether it be youth,whether it be in the pro space.
You know, are there any otherpartners that you guys that we
would know of that are startingto pick up on the Her Game 2
(07:24):
movement?
Speaker 3 (07:24):
That's a great local partner.
So Ozark Hellbenders, our OzarkUnited FC supporters group.
I love that stepped up to beour first Arkansas partnership,
oh wow.
And obviously I have an inbecause I'm on the starting 11,
the leadership, so maybe Iguilted them into it, you know.
(07:46):
But that's really great forArkansas because I think that
sets the stage for the teams andthe grassroots teams around to
pick up.
And we've been talking toseveral referee associations,
state associations for the refs.
So I think that is somethingthat we're looking at next and
then, leading on from that isour website has a reporting
(08:08):
system so you can log on if youhave experienced abuse in any
shape or form.
You know whether you're areferee, a fan, at any level of
game, and it will come to us asthe lead team, and one of our
background things that is takingtime is there is not many of us
on our lead team to deal withthe report, so we would mediate
(08:31):
the clubs and organizations ifthis happened.
So, for example, if a refereehad put in a report that they
didn't they didn't feelcomfortable going to the state
association with we could thenmediate for them between them
and the state association.
So that's the other thing.
Um, in tandem with theeducation part, that we're
really working on is thereporting system and being there
(08:52):
to support women that are ofencountered abuse that's.
Speaker 1 (08:57):
That's great.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
Um did I see an ea partnership announced recently
yes, yes, so EA Sports, if youplay the game, if you play FIFA,
you can actually choose hergame 2 jersey and actually the
billboard going around says hergame 2.
Actually, we've had requests,or I've had requests.
(09:19):
I don't know if they have it inthe UK yet, but I'm working on
bringing it live.
So the jersey they're wearingin the uk yet, but I'm working
on bringing it live.
Um, so the jersey they'rewearing in the game, if you've
ever played the game.
A lot of people have asked canwe get that jersey?
oh, wow um, so I would love toproduce that jersey and sell it
and then on one thing about fora non-profit.
(09:39):
So if we could do that and sellit, that money would go right
back to grassroots Buying themcleats if they need it, helping
with club fees that they need it, whatever, you know that's
where.
So one day we would love to getthere.
We're really supporting thegrassroots, not just bringing
(10:00):
awareness and helping themthrough it, but actually
physically spot showing them.
Hey, here you are that's socool.
Speaker 1 (10:08):
I mean it's the most played, I think one of the most
played video games.
I don't want to speak out ofturn.
One of the most played videogames is uh, formerly, you know
fifa, whatever the year is yeahnow they.
They removed the fifa tag, didnthey, I think?
Speaker 2 (10:24):
it's EA 25, something like that big video game person
, but it's exposure.
Speaker 1 (10:33):
I've only recently rediscovered with kids, but it's
been a while, but there weretimes I would play.
That actually used to be a wayfor me to connect with friends
that I no longer lived in thesame area with.
We were at different schools ordifferent areas and at a minute
and we'd text each other FIFA10 minutes, like play a 10
(10:54):
minute game, and then you'd talkthrough the headset.
So, anyway, game connects in alot of ways.
Yeah, yeah, so you started tohit on some of your you know and
we talked about this last timetoo like the issues that are,
you know, a little bit differentthan what they were
experiencing in the UK, but inthe same vein, still part of the
same movement and the ultimategoal of what you know you guys
(11:16):
are trying to work towards,which is advancement of women in
sport.
Yes, and what are some of thosethings in the US that maybe are
kind of the most common thatyou guys run into or see or
experience?
Speaker 2 (11:34):
So we can both speak on this.
But from my side it's thequestioning whether I know the
game.
It's asking me questions toprove that I know the game.
So the number one question iswell, you got to explain off
sides before I under trust thatyou know the game.
So me being a little sassysometimes.
Speaker 1 (11:57):
As you should be.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
Yeah, I turned and asked them do I need to explain
it?
You don't understand it.
Speaker 3 (12:03):
Oh, that showed up pretty quickly.
Speaker 2 (12:07):
And then I was that was at a pub in Chicago, and
pretty much after that nobodyquestioned why I was sitting
there to watch my games.
I love that, but I said it kindof loudly too, so that people
looked at them.
Speaker 1 (12:21):
I wanted to embarrass them to be honest.
Speaker 2 (12:25):
But so that's, I think, for me and that was part
of why I wanted to bring it,because I was talking to other
people and they were havingthose same experiences it's the
questioning whether we know itor questioning why would you
like it?
Like, is it just for the boysto watch the boys today, or to
get the boys to look at you,kind of thing, and it has
(12:47):
nothing to do with that.
Like, that's not why we go intothat.
Now there might be a handfulwho do go into it for that
they're always going to be, butfor the majority, most girls are
watching the sport because theylove the sport, not for who
they're looking at.
Speaker 3 (13:05):
I think to that end in the UK, like we said, it
started very much about thesexism and the fans and slowly
rolled into equality across theboard for girls getting into the
game and then then we'd, likewe said, the staff, the players,
refs, fans, parents, dads ofgirls uh, we've got a couple of
(13:25):
grassroots um players, dads, ummale coaches of girls teams.
They're really getting involvedon this and I think.
But the important thing as wellhere is the dropout rate of I
mean, I know that is not justgirls but ending rec and not
having anything in the juniorhigh level, particularly in this
(13:47):
area it varies across thestates.
But keeping girls involvedthrough high school if there's
not opportunities for club inthe area, but really keeping
them involved past 10 or so whenthey get out from that rec,
what have we got to them?
What is there for them to moveinto?
And I know you've spoke beforeon the podcast about this that
(14:10):
next level.
And so we want to be there, wewant to be Hug M2 USA to be that
support for equality for thegirls.
So I think it's more now for usin the US, less about the
sexism side it's still thereincluded but much more about
opportunities for girls andsupporting them across the board
(14:30):
, and that is, like we said,education, getting resources and
information into school, thereporting system for referees
and players there's.
there's a lot that we want to dohere, and so it's overwhelming
at some point there's you know,there's like there's too much
just a small job too much to doand I think you know there's
(14:51):
there's so many if you're a dadof a girl, if you've experienced
abuse as a fan or you know in apub.
There's so many angles to itand so much growth for it, and
so you know we are such a bigcountry.
We really need more people onboard with Her Game 2.
And I feel fans as well, morefemale fans, coming together to
(15:14):
support Creative activity, evenif you're not the same city
state.
Speaker 2 (15:19):
you know, hey, I can watch.
Watched this game with myfriend who was in three states
over, but we're texting eachother while the game's going on.
That camaraderie needs tohappen as well because, yeah, I
don't know many women my age whowatch soccer.
I, I think I'm a rarity in myarea, my hometown, which is a
(15:41):
low town.
It's me and my dad, that's allI know of, is soccer fans.
So it is trying to get thecommunity for women to feel like
, hey, this is for me.
Speaker 3 (15:53):
I can watch this sport and it's different across
the country.
It's very different what weexperienced in Arkansas.
We're very lucky in our littlepocket of Arkansas where we've
got quite a lot of socceropportunities.
Now it wasn't always that wayfor the girls We've had, like.
One of the things I think totalk about with the education
side is we had points over thelast five years where we
(16:14):
couldn't form an age group teamfor the girls and that makes
things really difficult and thatis that's adding to the
attrition rate and the dropoutrate before they get to junior
high, because if they're havingto scrape around trying to find
girls from other teams combiningteams, combining age groups
that's hard, that they're goingto stop getting despondent and
(16:35):
then not want to play.
So I feel I feel education andjust getting more interest in
the game that's as important asthe sexist.
Yeah, honestly.
Speaker 1 (16:46):
Absolutely.
Speaker 3 (16:46):
Falling in love with the game.
Yeah, that's what we want.
We want them to love it as muchas we do.
And so, yeah, getting moreambassadors across the country
and also people willing to helpwith all these the wheels and
cogs.
In the background there's a lotand there is, yeah, hoping for
(17:07):
visibility and more like-mindedpeople out there to really get
this message and hit thegrassroots teams, make these
girls feel valued yeah.
Speaker 1 (17:18):
So what's?
You started talking about it alittle bit, but as you look
forward, you know there'sthere's so much to chew off and
and and and chew on.
I should say to you know youbite off more than you chew,
whatever the saying is, butthere's so much to be done and
(17:38):
at some level that's a littlebit disheartening but also
speaks to the need to the workand, on the positive side, the
opportunities of completing thatwork and bringing the culture
and the populace to a betterplace collectively.
(17:59):
But what are you guys lookingfor?
You know what's next, what's onthe immediate horizon for you
guys.
Speaker 2 (18:08):
So in 2025, we actually had our meeting with
very, you know, high levelpeople, people and a few of our
ambassadors who have been on thecall, and our goal for 2025 is
going to be education, education, education, because we believe
that's where it starts.
We've got to start educatingand trying to get into the
(18:30):
schools and get the young onesand it's not just educating the
girls, it's educating the boysas well, educating them that
this game is for everyone.
Because a little side notestory, but it's relevant is a
eight-year-old girl was told byan eight-year-old boy that she
wasn't allowed to play the game.
(18:51):
Now, that should not happen atthat age, and that's where
education is going to come in.
That she wasn't allowed to playthe game, now, that should not
happen at that age, and that'swhere education is going to come
in.
Like I said, not just for thegirls, for the boys to realize
this is for everybody.
So that's our number one focusis education.
I think the number two focus isgetting that funding.
(19:12):
However, we may need to getthat In the next couple months,
we're going to be having afunding page right on our
website so people can fund, towrite to us and now we can help
the grassroots, because that'swhere it starts, that's where
the kid falls in love with thegame, and just for the love of
the game and not anything else.
So that's for me, that's.
(19:35):
What we mainly talked about wasthose two things grassroots
education.
Speaker 3 (19:38):
And then I think, thirdly, on that is more this
podcast, for example, gettingvisibility out there to hoping
that some of these clubs willsee and they'll want to stand
alongside us.
So a partnership we have a clubpartnership packet that we can
get out.
We can talk to um club ownersand explain to them, like, what
(19:59):
that means for the club to standby her game too and, uh, be
aligned with us.
So that's no money to be, itcosts no money.
It's as expensive or cheap asthe club wants it to, as you
want want it to be.
So it's manageable for agrassroots club, it's manageable
for a rec league, it'smanageable for a state
association, a USL team, itdoesn't matter.
(20:20):
An academy you can buy stuff touse, you don't have to.
But just having a girls teambeing able to have our badge,
the Her Game 2 patch, on theirjerseys, have dedicated fixtures
for their games, when a clubaligns with her game 2, that
(20:41):
it's, it's important, and itstarts at those grassroots, yeah
, ages and I think um, and youguys would be able to speak more
to this too there's and you'llprobably just say yes, there's
so much to do, and that's one ofthem, um is more female coaches
(21:05):
and opportunities absolutelywhen there are coaches, they're
not questioned about thecoaching ability as of their sex
, Because even in our video ifyou've watched our video one of
them is I don't want my childcoached by a girl.
Speaker 2 (21:22):
That is one of the comments.
So you're right, that isanother.
Speaker 1 (21:26):
Because I think too and I think that this is a
general statement aroundcoaching, education in the youth
game today that there's so muchopportunity there, um, and it's
.
It's not necessarily because,yeah, people don't know what
they're doing per se and theywant to just jump out there and
(21:47):
help and like that's great, um,so bringing some level of
consistency as to what are themain tenets of the game that
we're trying to get across anddo.
But I think the other piece ofit is when kids have a good
experience with their coach andthat coach.
It's much more for me,especially at the grassroots
level, less about teaching thegame the right way, but more
(22:09):
around providing an environmentwhere kids can fall in love with
each other yeah.
And they're much more likely todo that when they have a role
model coach.
That is, oh, I see myself inthat.
Yeah Right, representationmatters so much, and so that is
(22:34):
something just in general.
But then, even more important,on the girl's side, within the
attrition and the participationrates and all of those things
that I think you guys can be abig advocate for and I know you
are already but one of thethings that, again, as a father
(22:54):
of daughters, I, you know Ijumped in to help coach my
daughter's team because, therewasn't enough coaches and I was
actually hoping that, notbecause I don't want to coach my
daughter, but I actually I wasthe opposite.
(23:16):
I would have preferred for herto have an amazing female coach
and have that for her and bethat her experience.
Speaker 2 (23:23):
So yeah, and then probably help her fall in love
with it because she sees anothergirl or a lady through those.
Because if you coach withpassion of the game, regardless
of your skill level game, ifyou're coaching with passion,
that's going to rub off on thechild or the children.
So yeah.
Speaker 1 (23:41):
If my daughter ever sees this.
I love you, baby, I lovecoaching your team.
I don't want you to get thewrong idea.
It's just that you know, like Isaid, I I know she'll get that
eventually and she does get thatat practice every day.
Shout out to coach LesliePlatts Phenomenal, phenomenal
coach, who runs their age grouptraining sessions.
(24:03):
I get them on Saturdays forgame day, so, but I just I think
what you guys are doing is soimportant and I'm really glad
that you mentioned kind of theways that that's what I wanted
to focus on now is ways thatpeople can get involved, whether
that's I mean, you guys talkedabout it but whether that's as a
(24:24):
partner, as a behind the scenesvolunteer.
You know how, how do youencourage people in different
ways that they can get involved?
Speaker 2 (24:32):
So, yeah, they can get.
On our website, theherdium2.com.
There is a page and it's youfill out a form about being
involved that you want to getinvolved in what involved that
you want to get involved andwhat level do you want to get
involved?
Do you want to be an ambassador?
So like an ambassador, justquickly, ambassador is someone
(24:53):
who they support that club.
So like for me, I'm a Liverpoolfan and this is just
hypothetical because obviouslyI'm not in the UK.
There was like a Liverpool FChere that lived near me and I
was going to all the games I canapply to be and I say apply,
but it's just because you'refilling out an application, kind
of thing.
But you say, hey, I would loveto be an ambassador for
(25:13):
Liverpool.
And then us as a lead team lookat it.
We talk to the person, seetheir commitment level and
everything, and then we go, okay, here the ambassador, um, and
then the ambassador is ourlifeline to the club.
So that now we've extended andit's not just the team, the
(25:33):
directors who are look, tryingto get that team to partner it's
that ambassador's role to bethat person to talk to the club.
So they look and find who's theright person to talk to and all
that um, and there's some teamsthat have two ambassadors, one
for the club, the one for thesupporter club.
Just because they're twoentities and you want to keep
(26:12):
them separate, this move so, uh,so that there's that way,
there's the ambassador.
Yes, you do to be a part ofthis.
So a club can go online and say,hey, I'm xyz club and I really
support this message and wouldreally like to partner.
And then I usually have aconversation with them of, okay,
you want to do this, but do youhave somebody that can be your
(26:35):
ambassador?
Because we want somebody.
Like if someone reportssomething, if there's an
ambassador, then that ambassadorgets to take it up with the
club and that it relieves thepressure from the directors of
having to do all the work.
So you've got that and, like wesaid, the partnership is as
cheap or as expensive as youwant it to be.
(26:55):
Like we have a form and we listout possibilities of what you
can do as a partner and you cantake all of them.
You can do one Like DeKalbCounty United.
They just have a graphic bannerthat says DKCU plus her game
two and that's it, and it's atthe ground where they play, so
everybody sees it.
And they make sure they put itright at the entrance, so
(27:16):
literally everybody sees it,which I'm totally good because
that's again exposure.
So you have those two ways.
And then we actually had a girlreach out and she wanted to be
a part of it, but she had noclub and she wanted to know how
she could be involved.
(27:37):
And I'm like, well, what do youlike doing?
How she could be involved.
And I'm like, well, what do youlike doing?
And so we talked to him aboutthat and then figure out, okay,
what is your avenue?
Because there are.
I mean, I would love for ourwebsite to have a blog every two
weeks or something.
So if somebody is a great writerand can write on their
(27:58):
experiences in the game, come onboard, do that.
You know you don't have toexperiences in the game.
Come on board, do that.
You know you don't have to bein the public eye, or you don't
have to be going to a club andtry to convince them to be a
partner.
There's other behind-the-scenesthings they can do.
They just have to reach out tous and our website and say
here's my skill set, I'd reallylike to be involved, I love what
(28:19):
you guys are doing.
And then we as, uh, the threedirectors will go oh, okay,
let's have a conversation withthem.
Let's see what where this takesus yeah with the size of the
country.
Speaker 3 (28:31):
We need visibility for the campaign and we need a
podcast and a blog.
There's there's only so muchthere's so much you can.
And we don't have the skill setfor all of us, and so that's a
great way to be involved.
Contact the amount of clubs wehave in the US.
Speaker 1 (28:49):
Oh yeah.
Speaker 3 (28:50):
It's just we are only able to.
You know, we're trying toconcentrate on our local areas
this year and build out, and weneed the visibility for people
to see this and hop on board.
Speaker 1 (29:01):
So we just keep adding more.
Speaker 3 (29:05):
Don't we?
Speaker 1 (29:06):
yes, we do but I I mean, one of the things that I'm
really excited about is thelaunch of the usl super league
and the continued uh, you knowwork that that league is doing
and, god willing, we're able toyou that to Northwest Arkansas
as well, and we have.
(29:27):
I think there's almost 40,000women, female college soccer
players across the whole leagueD1, d2, d3, juco and up until
the start of the USL SuperLeague, there were 12, 14 NWSL
teams that maybe needed threeroster positions every year for
(29:47):
the.
You know, you can do math, yeah, like that's just, you hit an
absolute wall after playingcollege.
And how do we continue toprovide those opportunities and
it's not just professionally,but especially grassroots and
get them involved and in lovewith the game, but also then
allow them to pursue their dreamand passion no different than
(30:08):
they can on the boys' side,exactly?
Speaker 3 (30:10):
And we definitely want to hit the college teams as
well.
So, I think that's going to befantastic to have college
players as role models.
Speaker 1 (30:18):
Absolutely, you know so.
Absolutely, I mean.
That's the I mean.
And what shout out to the U ofA and what coach Colby Hale has
been able to do with thatprogram, colby Hale?
Speaker 3 (30:30):
we need to talk.
Speaker 1 (30:32):
But there, I mean it's just, it's phenomenal for
girls in this area even to takemy daughters to those games.
They're top five, top 10 teamin the country and you know the
experience there, the attendancethat they get there is
incredible.
I mean, the support for women'ssport is, you know, at an
all-time high.
So I mean you guys are rightthere doing such important work.
Speaker 2 (30:50):
That's why I'm wearing my shirt Support women's
sports.
Speaker 1 (30:54):
Everyone watches women's sports.
That's what I love, yeah.
Speaker 3 (31:03):
We've what I love.
Yeah, we've had a lot of ballgirl, ball boy opportunities
with U of A.
Oh love that, and so we'd liketo see that's something that we
would like to see with um notonly her game, two um games but,
be able to have all ball boys,ball girls um yeah, in in
branded shirts, and that'sanother way, another way.
So there is just a lot.
So we need help.
Please help us.
Speaker 1 (31:24):
Her game to USA.
Her game to Her game her gametocom, her game to USA on
socials.
Speaker 3 (31:31):
Yep.
Speaker 1 (31:32):
Thank you, Natasha, Thank you, Jen, so much for
joining me.
I applaud your efforts and yourwork is so needed and I wish it
wasn't, but it is so needed andthank you so much for all that
you're doing, uh, on behalf ofmy daughters and girls and
everywhere.
So thank you, Thanks for havingus.
That's it for this episode ofpitch to pro.
(31:52):
We hope you enjoyed it.
Be sure to catch all theepisodes on pitch to procom or
look for picture pro on Spotify,YouTube, Apple, wherever you
get your podcasts for morecontent.
Until next time.
Cheers, Northwest Arkansas.
Thanks for joining us on thisepisode of the Pitch the Pro
podcast.
Be sure to tune in again in twoweeks for the next installment
and check out the Stoppage Timeseries for a recap of today's
(32:14):
episode.
Be sure to find us at Pitch thePro on YouTube, Instagram and
everywhere you get your podcasts.
Until next time, NorthwestArkansas cheers.
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