While much of the Washington Freedom’s focus has been on building a professional team to be part of Women’s Professional Soccer’s inaugural season, it can be easy to overlook the fact that the Freedom is more than just a professional soccer team.
With youth teams, affiliations with local clubs and a top-level amateur squad, the Freedom hopes that building a club system similar to the ones in Europe will be the key to supporting professional women’s soccer in the U.S.
“We chose this approach mostly because that is the path successful soccer clubs around the world have followed,” Freedom Head Coach Jim Gabarra said. “We have aimed to adapt this model to our region’s American soccer market. Our goal is to continue to develop as a club that develops quality players who can succeed at the highest level. Most importantly we would like players to feel that they are part of something bigger than just a soccer team. This is a vehicle to support and promote the WPS team in a broad grassroots manner.”
The 2007 W-League North American champions, the Freedom views its W-League squad as an important opportunity in the system that is in place. The W-League team fills the gap for youth players once they reach the college ranks and are looking for a competitive league to play in during the summer months.
Gabarra will remain as head coach of the W-League team in an effort to make sure all teams included in the Washington Freedom Soccer Club play the same style of soccer. Gabarra will be assisted by Win Puffer and Nicci Wright at the W-League level.
Similar to previous seasons, the Freedom should have a mix of college eligible players and college graduates playing for the W-League team, which should help these players continue to improve their games by giving them a higher level of competition and development.
“The W-League team serves as a very good developmental as well as evaluation opportunity,” Gabarra said.
Gabarra hopes that by implementing a singular coaching philosophy, these players will learn to play their respective positions the same way, regardless of whether they are on the U13 team or starting for the WPS squad. This will also allow younger players to see how they should play their position by watching someone at the pro level play it the same way.
“From a technical perspective these players will develop a true understanding of how the WPS/senior team plays as well as benefit from the educational value of seeing the highest level players perform and answer the same questions that they as players are asked,” Gabarra said. “They will also be trained with the same methods and standards under a uniform club vision. There are many benefits of having everyone play under the same system.”
For college players, this will give them a chance to see the talent at the professional level since NCAA restrictions prevent them from practicing with professional players.
“This is an important environment for kids to be in prior to going to college, or once they have started their college careers,” Gabarra said.
All four of the Freedom’s WPS October Draft selections were members of the W-League team. Players in the Freedom youth system have seen the benefits of playing for the club, as 13 Freedom youth players were recently named to various All-Conference teams and seven were named to NSCAA All-Region teams.
2009 Memberships
The Washington Freedom is proud to announce the return of its exclusive membership program. All members receive one week of our widely popular summer camps, discounts on other camps throughout the year, a season ticket to all Freedom WPS home games at the Maryland SoccerPlex in Germantown, a season ticket to all W-League home matches, a Freedom t-shirt, free subscription to the Washington Freedom Insider Newsletter and many more great benefits.
For more information on our membership program or to sign up click here.
Holiday Sale
The Washington Freedom Holiday Sale is taking place right now. Call 202-547-KICK to buy season tickets and receive 15% off all merchandise in the Washington Freedom Online Store. Place your order today and be a part of the inaugural WPS season.
