First year head coach Paul Hason came up with the idea of certifying the entire team as a team building exercise, “I am excited to announce, that to the best of my knowledge, the SAGU women’s soccer team is the first, if not only, collegiate soccer team in America where every player is a U.S. Soccer National Licensed soccer coach.”
Each member of the Lady Lions completed an online coaching course where they received their U.S. Soccer National “F” soccer license. The focus of the coaching course is to share U.S. Soccer’s best practices in creating a fun, activity-centered and age appropriate environment for five to eight year old soccer players.
“Since soccer is one of our platforms for ministry, I believe that it was important for the players to understand the game from the perspective of a coach,” explains Hason, “I wanted the team to reach their first milestone and accomplish something together as a team prior to arriving for pre-season.”
Co-team captain Laura Barba Sturgeon was surprised that 
Coach Hason proposed the idea, especially since she doesn’t plan on being a coach, “Going through the course I saw it’s not all about coaching, it’s about helping others and teaching them what we know. I can now see where our coaches are coming from. It was definitely a good experience and I’m hoping we will all put the license to good use. I’m proud to say that SAGU women’s soccer team is licensed in coaching.”
The Lady Lions will have plenty of opportunities to use their coaching license when the athletes return to campus on August 8, 2016. Coach Hason will hold daily outreaches with his players, some of which will include using soccer as a ministry opportunity.
Southwestern Assemblies of God University is a private, Christian university located 30 minutes south of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex in Waxahachie, Texas. The university was established in 1927, and now offers more than 70 associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees on campus or online. More information is available at www.sagu.edu or by calling 1-888-YES-SAGU.
Contact: Natalie Tristan, SAGU SID, [email protected]
