US coach Emma Hayes is looking to reframe women’s soccer through a female lens

LAFAYETTE, Ga. (AP) — U.S. women's soccer coach Emma Hayes is ambitiously seeking to reshape the women's soccer landscape through a female-centric perspective. Currently, Hayes believes the female sport is merely a scaled-down version of men's soccer. Her vision envisions an expansive ecosystem where athletes are managed and trained with a gender-specific lens.

Hayes aims to impact society positively through her approach, emphasizing that women's soccer should provide more than just a recreational activity. Since assuming her role as the national team coach shortly before the 2024 Olympics, Hayes has begun implementing her "WNT Way" strategy.

To promote her vision, Hayes recently organized the "herLENS" conference, which drew over 300 participants from the sport. The conference focused on various aspects, including retaining young girls in the sport, the influence of menstruation and hormones on performance, and gender-specific training practices.

Despite the ongoing matches, Hayes' attention remains on preparing for the upcoming World Cup qualifying matches against Spain. The matches serve as a stepping stone towards the 2023 Women's World Cup, which the United States is set to host, alongside Mexico, Costa Rica, and Jamaica.

U.S. Soccer President Cindy Parlow Cone acknowledges the U.S. as a prime candidate to pioneer the women's game on the global stage. Cone believes that U.S. Soccer has a responsibility to create a more developmentally appropriate, fun, and engaging environment for women soccer players of all levels.