‘Tipping point on women’s side’: Calgary’s Katie Collar eyes domestic soccer improvements
Posted Jan 8, 2021 5:30 am.
Last Updated Jan 8, 2021 6:01 am.
CALGARY (660 NEWS) — We’re close but not close enough.
That’s the message from Calgary Foothills WFC assistant coach Katie Collar when it comes to the growth of the women’s game.
“We’re at a really exciting place right now, and I almost think it’s a tipping point on the women’s side,” she explained. “We’ve had a lot of success over the last 10 years: a big spark in 2015 when we hosted the Women’s World Cup, Olympic bronze. The actual excitement around the women’s game over the past five years has grown, not just in our country, but across the globe.
“I think, for us, we have structures in place, the players that are having success in other professional environments.
“In Canada, we have the players, we have the capacity, and we need enough backing and support when it comes to structuring a league or a team.”
LISTEN: Sandra Prusina catches up with Katie Collar of Foothills WFC
And she’s helping Calgary lead the way, thanks to back-to-back trips with Foothills to the final four in the United Women’s Soccer league.
RELATED: Calgary’s Foothills WFC hosting national championship
“A real quality opportunity for the top-performing female athletes to look up to, to aspire, but to also give back and become role models in, it’s been a really good experience,” she said of Foothills. “Last year was my first year getting my feet wet. This year, I’m taking on more of a bigger role as an assistant coach.
“The biggest and most exciting part for me is that it’s really starting to get the ball rolling to get these kids somewhere to play, somewhere to aspire to on the women’s side.”
One person very excited for the upcoming @UWSSoccer Battle of Alberta is @FoothillsWFC assistant coach Katie Collar. pic.twitter.com/Qv7aUapW59
— Sandra Prusina (@sprusina) January 6, 2021
