Mia Hamm motivates soccer players to lead on and off the field The Julie Foudy Sports Leadership Academy (JFSLA) returned in the summer of 2010 for its fifth year, this time with soccer great Mia Hamm at the helm. Equal parts soccer and leadership training, JFSLA emphasizes skills that can be cultivated for life. Foudy, thirteen-year captain of the USA Women’s Soccer Team, two-time gold medalist and two-time World Cup Champion, founded the camp with husband Ian Sawyers.
skills the athlete can apply off the field,” explains Foudy. “By the same token, individuals who develop leadership skills off the field often are able to bring those skills to the field to draw out the best in themselves and their teammates.” Sitting on the edge of the stage in the William MountBurke Theatre, Hamm shared her story with the campers. Excelling at soccer at an early age, Hamm was selected by the national team at age 15. Ironically, this is where she first
“We all have a gift and tremendous potential. Know that you can make a difference — no matter what your circumstances are.” — Mia Hamm Hamm, also two-time World Champion and Olympic gold medalist, and the youngest woman ever to play on the United States National Team, took Foudy’s place at this year’s camp to continue to promote the camp’s message of “choosing to matter.” The former teammates share a common motivation; grateful for the game, their team and their experience, they are committed to giving back. JFSLA emphasizes the strong connection between sports and leadership, encouraging girls to be leaders both on the field and in their communities. “The lessons an athlete learns on the field of striving for goals, motivating others and problem solving translate into leadership 26 Peddie Chronicle
experienced feelings of failure, and from those, began to learn how to be successful. “Up until this point, for me, everything had come easily — I had experienced success without much hardship. Now I was sitting on the bench. I realized that I wanted more than anything to be a part of this team — but in order to do so, I had to fully commit myself. Once I learned to do that, I took off. I set my own bar instead of trying to reach for one set by others, and made my expectations for myself higher than the expectations others had for me.” Hamm began playing to her potential, but soon faced another obstacle in trying to establish her role on the team.