"Kick Off" by Hamish Bowles, originally published in the April 2016 issue of Vogue, offers a unique perspective on the world of professional women’s soccer through the eyes of an unlikely participant and one of the sport’s most celebrated stars, Alex Morgan. This piece, originally conceived as a personal reflection on the author’s own fraught relationship with the sport and an exploration of the burgeoning influence of women’s soccer, has been expanded to provide a comprehensive overview of the landscape of professional women’s soccer, its challenges, and its triumphs, as seen through the lens of 2016.
The article delves into the contrasting childhood experiences of the author and Alex Morgan, highlighting the inherent societal assumptions and barriers that shaped their respective journeys with the sport. While Morgan, a self-proclaimed "ultimate tomboy," harbored a fierce competitive spirit and an innate desire to excel, the author recounts a childhood marked by avoidance and a lack of ingrained understanding of the game, a stark reflection of the era’s gendered expectations where girls were largely relegated to other sports. This initial contrast sets the stage for a deeper examination of the evolution of women’s soccer and the systemic shifts that have propelled athletes like Morgan to international acclaim.
The Genesis of a Soccer Supernova: Alex Morgan’s Early Years
Alex Morgan’s trajectory towards becoming a global soccer icon is rooted in a childhood where the sport was not just a pastime but a palpable aspiration. Her competitive nature, evident from a young age, found its ultimate expression on the soccer field. A pivotal moment in her development was the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup victory by the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team, led by legendary figures like Mia Hamm, Julie Foudy, and Michelle Akers. This landmark achievement, a dramatic 5-4 win against China, served as a powerful inspiration, solidifying Morgan’s ambition to pursue a professional career. By the age of sixteen, with a burgeoning reputation as a star player for her high school team in Diamond Bar, California, the dream of professional soccer felt not only attainable but within reach.
This contrasts sharply with the author’s own early experiences. Unlike Morgan, who was driven to play, the author describes a deliberate effort to avoid the sport, even when unexpectedly placed on the elite high school soccer team. The author’s tenure as a goalkeeper was marked by "astonishing thespian, if not athletic, skills," a humorous testament to a lack of genuine engagement. More often, the author and a friend would "loiter about on the outskirts of the field with my best friend, gossiping away and admiring our imaginary nail varnish as the ball and the rest of the players went whizzing past." This anecdote underscores the profound difference in the early cultural reception of soccer for boys versus girls, and highlights the individual fight for recognition and opportunity that many female athletes faced.
The Evolving Landscape of Women’s Soccer: Challenges and Triumphs
Morgan, speaking from the perspective of a 26-year-old established professional in 2016, articulates the inherent paradox faced by many women in soccer: a fervent desire to play met with societal resistance. "It’s almost the complete opposite for women soccer players," she explains. "We’re dying to play and people are telling us, ‘You can’t play.’ I almost wish I’d been forced into it, instead of my having to fight for it!" This sentiment speaks to the systemic barriers and ingrained prejudices that have historically limited opportunities for female athletes.
The author’s personal journey of reluctantly re-engaging with the sport, spurred by an assignment and a desire to honor a father’s passion, mirrors the broader struggle for mainstream acceptance. The author draws parallels with mid-century star Sir Stanley Matthews, revered for his skills, suggesting a personal commitment to at least "give it a go," despite lingering childhood traumas associated with the sport. This personal re-entry into the world of soccer is further contextualized by the burgeoning interest in the intersection of sports and fashion, exemplified by friend Simon Doonan’s project exploring soccer through the lens of style.
Doonan’s insights into "stat-mad" football culture, seeking correlations between fashion-forward players and on-field success, highlight the evolving narrative around athletes. He cites examples like Mario Balotelli with his custom Bentley, Zlatan Ibrahimović’s distinctive style, and Cristiano Ronaldo’s sartorial choices, all contributing to the modern athlete’s persona. David Beckham is identified as the "ultimate football fashionisto," credited with popularizing the metrosexual image. Beckham’s advice to the author, "Listen to the girls. They’re the most driven athletes I’ve ever known, and their success is showing it. They know better than most of the guys. Listen to them—and run fast!" serves as a powerful endorsement of the growing prominence and expertise of female athletes.
The Science and Dedication Behind Elite Performance
The article then shifts focus to the rigorous training regimens that underpin the success of elite female athletes, drawing on the expertise of Dawn Scott, the revered trainer for the U.S. Women’s National Team. The author’s initial training sessions in Los Angeles with Brazilian-Swedish trainer Daniel Söderström, held amidst the striking landscape of the La Brea Tar Pits, underscore the rudimentary nature of the author’s own athletic foundation. Exercises focused on "cognitive skills" reveal a significant disconnect between foot and ball, leading to humorous but telling misfires.
A subsequent meeting with Scott at the StubHub Center, where she was working with Christen Press, offers a deeper glimpse into the professional athlete’s world. Press describes her early enjoyment of soccer as a social activity, a "social hour" where "you have all your friends." This perspective contrasts with the intense dedication and physical demands of the professional game. Scott, hailing from the "no-nonsense north of England," brings a pragmatic and data-driven approach to her training.
Scott’s methodology emphasizes customized programs tailored to individual athletes, incorporating data from a central online database. This system tracks crucial metrics such as diet, sleep recovery, heart rate, speed, agility, and fitness levels, allowing for continuous monitoring and adjustment of training routines by Scott and head coach Jill Ellis. "It’s a daily ongoing process," Scott explains, acknowledging the diverse personalities within a 25-player roster. The author’s firsthand experience with Scott’s program, including demanding exercises like "Turkish get-ups" and a comprehensive array of strength and conditioning drills, highlights the sheer physical commitment required. The author’s exhaustion after these sessions serves as a stark reminder of the gulf between casual participation and professional athleticism.
The Unrelenting Drive: Facing Adversity and Championing Equality
The narrative returns to Alex Morgan in Orlando, Florida, where she is preparing for the upcoming Olympics. Her life, like many professional athletes, is characterized by constant movement and adaptation, with her husband, Servando Carrasco, also a professional soccer player, navigating frequent team transfers. Morgan’s description of their transient lifestyle, moving into new homes sight unseen, emphasizes the demanding nature of professional sports careers. Despite these logistical challenges, Morgan expresses a commitment to making it work, particularly as she is living with her husband for the first time since college.
Morgan’s personal style, a blend of athletic wear and fashionable pieces from brands like Marc Jacobs, Veronica Beard, and Rag & Bone, reflects the increasing integration of fashion and sport. She notes the overlap between athletic aesthetics and contemporary fashion, a trend that resonates with her need for practical yet stylish travel wardrobes. Beyond her on-field prowess, including her famed late-game heroics, Morgan is a vocal advocate for equality in sports. Her motivational autobiography, "Breakaway: Beyond the Goal," and her series of children’s novels further cement her role as an influential figure.
A significant aspect of Morgan’s advocacy revolves around the stark financial disparities in professional soccer. At the Forbes Under 30 Summit, she joined teammates to discuss the "salary cap for women’s national-league soccer players" being "less than one tenth that for men’s major-league soccer players." The article highlights the immense pay gap, with male superstars like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo earning approximately $1,000,000 per week, while the U.S. women’s team, despite winning the 2015 World Cup, received $2 million, a fraction of the $35 million awarded to the German men’s team for their 2014 victory. Morgan’s stance is clear: "Players need to get paid for what they’re worth, for what they put up on the field."
Navigating Sexism and Building a Legacy
Morgan’s own career milestones underscore her exceptional talent and the growing recognition of women’s soccer. At 21, she was the youngest player on the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup team, earning U.S. Soccer Female Athlete of the Year in 2012 and placing third in the FIFA Ballon d’Or. The article also touches upon the controversial tenure of FIFA President Sepp Blatter, whose suggestions for "tighter shorts" to boost popularity were met with widespread criticism. The eventual downfall of Blatter, following allegations of "criminal mismanagement," is presented as a moment of vindication for those advocating for respect and equality within the sport.
Further evidence of systemic sexism is presented in the use of artificial turf for the U.S. women’s World Cup matches in Canada, a surface known to be harder on the body and more prone to injuries, contrasting with the grass pitches preferred by most players. The article also notes the absence of hooliganism and homophobia in women’s soccer, with Abby Wambach stating, "Gone are the days that you need to come out of a closet," a testament to a more inclusive environment within the sport, despite other pervasive challenges.
The article concludes by illustrating the immense popularity of women’s soccer, with over 25 million viewers tuning in for the U.S. team’s 2015 World Cup victory against Japan. The team’s subsequent matches drew average crowds of 24,000, signifying the largest attendance for women’s sports globally. Morgan’s belief that increased exposure will lead to greater appreciation is a hopeful outlook for the sport’s future.
Despite a punishing schedule, with barely two and a half weeks of downtime annually, Morgan remains dedicated. Her off-season activities include yoga and meditation, and she has become increasingly mindful of her diet, prioritizing protein and grains over excessive carbohydrates and red meat. Her trainer, Scott, is lauded for her expertise and ability to push athletes to their limits while ensuring tangible results.
The final training session, conducted in pouring rain in Orlando, highlights Morgan’s resilience and commitment. Even as she teaches the author the basics of a sliding tackle, her focus remains on the upcoming Olympics. The author’s nascent understanding of the "fire that has smoldered within my father for all these years" signifies a personal transformation, a newfound appreciation for the dedication and passion that drives athletes like Alex Morgan. David Beckham’s playful inquiry about the author’s "knees" at Victoria Beckham’s fashion show serves as a lighthearted nod to the author’s journey, a journey that has unexpectedly intersected with the demanding, inspiring, and rapidly evolving world of professional women’s soccer.
