Washington Spirit Joins Vienna Youth Soccer For First NoVA Girls' Soccer Clinic

VIENNA, VA – Vienna Youth Soccer and the Washington Spirit are pairing up for a girls' soccer clinic on Sunday at Oakton High School. The clinic will be presented by Sol de Janeiro, an official partner of the Washington Spirit, the capital's professional women's soccer team.

Oscar Leon, director of operations at Vienna Youth Soccer, says the clinic is expecting more than 200 participants. The event is a response to a real issue: "Nationwide, girls drop out of sports at twice the rate of boys by age 14, often due to limited access, low confidence, and lack of representation," he said in an email.

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At the clinic, which is for girls ages seven to 14, players will be coached by licensed female coaches and mentors and have a chance to meet Washington Spirit players.

The Washington Spirit have run clinics like this in Washington, D.C., before, but this is their first in Northern Virginia, Leon told Patch in an email. As with all Vienna Youth Soccer programming, Leon says, this event is meant to be engaging and player-focused, with mentors the girls can relate to. They'll also be able to ask questions directly of the Washington Spirit players attending.

Partnerships like this clinic give young athletes access to their own sports role models, he says. "When girls get to train alongside professional players and ask them questions directly, it's about exposure, opportunity, and connection."

"At the club level, the Washington Spirit has helped make the D.C. region a hub for elite women's soccer, showcasing some of the best players in the world. Organizations like VYS play a critical role in giving local girls that same opportunity to develop as soccer players but more importantly as people," Leon said. "It is about more than soccer, sports give girls a place to build confidence, leadership, and lifelong friendships, and clinics like this one are a direct link between that grassroots experience and the potential they can grow into."

Leon told Patch registration for the event was still open as of Friday, though the event was nearly at capacity. He says they've started a waitlist for additional interest.

Registration for the clinic is $50. The event will run from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Oakton High School. Find out more here.