HERStory: Supporting Women and Girls In Sport
Women and girls are an essential part of every level of the game. Foothills is committed to creating opportunities for female players, coaches, managers, trainers, officials, volunteers and staff to participate, develop, lead and pursue their goals.
From a player’s first team experience to competitive youth soccer, the Alberta Player Development League, post-secondary programs, the Alberta Premier League and opportunities at the professional and national-team levels, Foothills provides a connected pathway for every ambition.
Our commitment extends beyond the pitch. We work to develop and celebrate women as coaches, mentors, professionals and leaders, while creating positive environments where girls can build skills, confidence, friendships and a lifelong connection to soccer.
Our Commitment to Women and Girls
Through our HERStory initiative, Foothills is committed to:
- Helping more girls discover soccer and remain involved in the game
- Providing a complete development pathway for female players with different abilities, goals and ambitions
- Creating positive team environments where girls feel supported, confident and valued
- Recruiting, developing and mentoring female coaches
- Supporting women in management, officiating, sports science, athletic therapy, administration and other leadership roles
- Connecting young players with female role models who show what is possible in soccer and beyond
- Celebrating the achievements and contributions of Foothills players, alumni, coaches, volunteers and staff
Whether someone wants to play for fun, compete at an advanced level, coach the next generation or contribute to the game in another way, there is a place for her at Foothills.
Why Do You Play? For the Camaraderie.
For female members in particular, the friendships forged through sport are a major factor in why they play. Foothills regularly host events for our female members to bring them together off the pitch, including Managers’ workshops and team and Club events.
Our team coaches and managers, too, are building environments that create memories, friendships, and a “soccer for life” mentality.
Read the inspiring story of the Foothills Ravens and their seven year (and counting) soccer journey!
Women in Coaching and Leadership
Women play an essential role in developing the next generation of Foothills players. We are committed to helping more women discover coaching, build their confidence and pursue meaningful opportunities within the game.
Whether someone is a former player, a parent volunteering for the first time or an experienced coach looking to advance, Foothills provides development and support aligned with her experience and goals. This includes:
- Phase-specific curriculum and session-planning resources
- Coaching clinics, workshops and continuing professional development
- Individual mentorship, observation and feedback
- Guidance and support for Canada Soccer licensing
- Opportunities to progress from volunteer to paid coaching
- Pathways into specialized, full-time and leadership positions
- A supportive community of coaches who learn from one another
Our coaching pathway spans Grassroots through the Foundation, Development and Generation phases and into the Alberta Premier League environment. Women can enter the pathway at different stages and continue developing as their interests, experience and ambitions grow.
“Earning my C Diploma means a lot. It’s another step toward becoming the kind of female coach I wish I’d had when I was younger. I’m grateful to Foothills and the mentors who believed in me and helped me get here. Now I want to keep growing, keep learning, and keep inspiring more girls to see coaching as something they can do too.”
Soccer Coach Stephanie Colvin coaches our U10 APDL Girls Team along with Luis Tinoco. She attended our April 2024 Coaches Workshop and took a minute to share how the Club supports all of our coaches.
Stephanie also talks about the importance of mentorship, especially for female soccer players.
Thanks, Stephanie!
In the News
Foothills Launches First In-House GK Program Led by Alum Mabel Dunn
When Foothills alumna Mabel Dunn first stepped between the posts, it wasn’t part of a plan. She was a striker in Toronto until her team needed a goalkeeper and nobody volunteered, so the coach drew names from a hat. Hers came up, and what began as a reluctant switch turned
Finnah Gordon Earns Canada Soccer C Diploma, Raising the Bar for Young Female Coaches
When we first profiled Finnah Gordon back in April, we wrote: “If Finnah’s accomplishments to date are an indication, we have no doubt she will accomplish that!” Just a few months later, that prediction is already coming true. Finnah has officially completed her Canada Soccer C License, taking another major
Foothills APDL 2007 Girls: A Journey to National Glory
By Colin Mackay, Club Operations Manager and APDL 2007 Girls Team Coach This is the story of a journey that began with a small group of dedicated players and ended with a national championship. It’s a story of trust, loyalty, and the power of a winning culture. The Foothills APDL
New High Performance Soccer Program Helps Girls Get to the Next Level
Alberta Soccer’s Jason Blake and Lisa Grant explain the new High Performance Program that is now available for Alberta female soccer players. The program ensures that Albertans have a pathway in Alberta to be identified by post secondary, national and even pro teams. They will no longer have to travel
Presenter at the 2024 IOC World Conference on Prevention of Injury and Illness in Sport
Carla van den Berg is the former Assistant Head of Sports Science at Foothills. She was in Monaco in the Spring of 2024 while still with Foothills, where she presented some of her early University of Calgary PhD research at the prestigious International Olympic Committee World Conference on Prevention of
CMSA Shifts Training Environment To Try To Keep More Girls in the Game
Over 750 young soccer players from across the province took part in the 2024 Winter Classic Indoor soccer tournament, but out of the 73 teams taking part, only 11 were girls’ teams. “The numbers don’t lie,” said Jordan Stewart, the technical leader of Calgary Minor Soccer Association (CMSA). “There’s a
Foothills WFC’s Doctor Rehana Murani Interview with Global Calgary
Calgary Foothills WFC midfielder and doctor Rehana Murani balances soccer and residency. Watch the full clip below. See the full article here. Other News Related Posts
Introducing the Northern Super League and the Calgary Wild FC
At the end of May 2024, it was announced that the Northern Super League (NSL) would begin in April 2025. The League now consists of teams from six cities… Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver, and Calgary!
Calgary Wild FC represents players and soccer fans from across the province and is the first and only pro women’s team between Vancouver and Toronto. We hope to see that stat change soon!
For our players and their families, this means that those with the ambition and skill to play professionally will now have an opportunity to do it in Canada and even here in front of their home-province supporters!
For the Club, it’s another important part of our PATHWAY TO PRO. As champions of the “women in soccer” movement in Canada, Foothills had the foresight to secure the rights for pro women’s soccer in Calgary, supporting the original organizer, Diana Matheson (shown here with Foothills members) and her team at Project 8, from the very beginning. Those rights have now transitioned but the Club remains an avid supporter of women’s soccer.
An Inclusive and Immersive Experience That Cultivates Friendships
There are many reasons to participate in soccer. The life-long friendships you develop is an important one.
Take Mya Jones (left) and Grace Stordy (right).
These two Foothills athletes started their journey together in Foothills Youth Club and went on to play together for Foothills WFC in the United Women’s Soccer League.
Talk about a lifelong friendship!
Team Managers: The Glue that Holds Our Teams Together
It is an understatement that a team manager is the glue that holds each team together. Team managers spend countless hours helping their squads have a rewarding soccer experience and successful season, and we support them in many ways. We provide resources to help them learn from each other and share best practices. Improving the training and support we provide our managers is a priority.
Foothills hosts socials for our managers to gather, share ideas, and network. The socials provide an opportunity for each of them to engage with Foothills staff and build relationships.
Why These Events Matter
- Strengthening Bonds: Our team managers are an integral piece of each team. These events provide an opportunity to build and strengthen connections.
- Cultivating Culture: A strong and positive club culture is vital for our players’ growth and development. When our team management comes together, we create an environment that exemplifies our core values of passion, purpose, and professionalism.
- Acknowledgment of Effort: Our managers’ dedication and commitment does not go unnoticed. These events provide an opportunity for us to express our gratitude for the countless hours invested in shaping our players’ experiences on and off the field.
- Fun and Relaxation: Our Club’s mission is to make soccer a fun and rewarding experience for our players, but also all team members, including our managers.
FAQs
Foothills supports female players from Grassroots through competitive youth soccer, APDL and the Alberta Premier League. The club also provides development, education and mentorship opportunities for female coaches, managers, trainers and other leaders.
Girls can begin their Foothills journey in the club’s Grassroots programs. Programming continues through the Youth Club pathway and into advanced competitive and adult opportunities.
Yes. Foothills offers girls’ teams across multiple age groups and levels of competition. Available placements depend on a player’s age, stage of development and seasonal registration.
Players can progress from Grassroots and Youth Club soccer into APDL and the Foothills WFC program. Foothills players may also pursue opportunities in post-secondary soccer, professional leagues and national-team environments.
Yes. Foothills welcomes women interested in coaching and provides education, mentorship and practical coaching experience. Opportunities may be available for experienced coaches, former players and parents taking their first steps into coaching.
Not necessarily. The club’s coach-development and mentorship programs are designed to help coaches build their knowledge, confidence and qualifications at different stages of their development.
Foothills focuses on quality coaching, positive team environments, friendships, confidence, development opportunities and a pathway that accommodates different abilities and ambitions. The goal is to help players enjoy the sport and see a meaningful future within it.
Women and girls can participate as coaches, team managers, trainers, match officials, sports-science practitioners, administrators, volunteers and club leaders.
Players and families can explore the club’s program pages or contact Foothills for placement and registration information. Women interested in coaching, managing, volunteering or other leadership roles can contact the club to discuss current opportunities.
Female coaches can access phase-specific curriculum, clinics, workshops, mentorship, observation and feedback. Foothills also supports coaches who want to pursue Canada Soccer qualifications and continue progressing within the game.
