Soccer

Soccer in school? Alexandria City schools to host special PE classes for its 2nd graders

With soccer continuing to grow in popularity across the United States, one D.C.-area school district is set to pilot a program in which elite-level coaches will teach the sport during its physical education classes. Starting this fall, more than 1,300 second graders at all 14 elementary schools in Alexandria City Public Schools will receive soccer […]

Published

2 months ago

April 17, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Soccer in school? Alexandria City schools to host special PE classes for its 2nd graders

Starting this fall, more than 1,300 second graders at all 14 elementary schools in Alexandria City Public Schools will receive soccer lessons from professional soccer coaches for two weeks. Called “Soccer IN School,” the training program will be a part of the student’s PE classes, thanks to a $200,000 grant over three years given by the U.S. Soccer Federation.

The coaches will come from the Alexandria Soccer Association, which provides youth recreational and club-level opportunities for children in the Virginia city.

Johnatan Nunez, the soccer association’s outreach and school programs manager, told WTOP that the students will be introduced to referees and the rules of the sport.

Students will receive a “Soccer Skills Challenge” packet with a soccer ball, jersey and information on continuing to play the sport through the organization’s recreational or academy programs.

“Some kids may have never played soccer before. Some kids have played soccer all their lives. It’s the sport they only know,” Nunez said. He hopes students come in “with an open mind and being ready to learn something new, and in the end, just feel excited about getting to play the sport.”

Since the soccer lessons are part of regular PE classes, no additional forms or permissions will be required. The coaches’ visits will be spread out throughout the academic year so each school will have equal time.

According to a news release, the PE teacher will also participate in the classes while receiving special training from the U.S. Soccer coaching education program.

In addition to the second graders receiving the lessons, ACPS Health and PE Instructional Specialist Kristin Donley said the rest of the student body will also benefit.

“They will also be giving the PE teachers as sort of a curriculum guide or a unit guide that can be adapted to other grade levels too,” she said of the Alexandria Soccer Association.

The school system and ASA already have a partnership, with the soccer organization hosting multiple after-school clinics and some PE takeovers at different schools throughout the year. Now, with the grant, Nunez said that their relationship will be strengthened with more specific programming for students in an age range who desire more structure in their athletics.

“We want to professionalize it and make it kind of more of a standard where we’re at every school every year, and it’s something that even beyond the three years we want to continue to do,” Nunez said.

Katie Brooks of the Alexandria Soccer Association said the classes and how they are phased into Alexandria City schools would also become a model for how U.S. Soccer would like to carry similar programs in other districts around the country.

“We know this would be scaled nationwide,” Brooks said. “And so, we’re going to do the best we can do here to kick things off.”

For some students, it will be their first time participating in the sport. However, Donley said the coaches will devise kid-friendly drills that focus on more than just their soccer-playing abilities.

“Helping students build their confidence and their team building skills and working with others, and the cooperation piece,” she said. “It’s not just about soccer; it’s about all of those other pieces as well.”

The grant also pays for player appearances during the sessions. With the D.C. region home to multiple professional and semipro teams, the opportunities of bringing someone that will motivate the students are endless, Donley said. She would prefer someone local who may have gone through the ACPS system to be brought in.

Nunez agreed but said the opportunity for students to meet their hero and even get an autograph could motivate a child to continue pursuing their soccer dreams. He quickly named Washington Spirit star Trinity Rodman as a potential option, telling WTOP the forward and any of her teammates are welcome to spend time with the students.

“We would love to have her come out and encourage our girls to (see) how big they can be in the world,” Nunez said.

Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.

Related Topics:academic big building health new news skills soccer soccer drills sports team working

Up Next

Urban Meyer crushes state of NIL

Don't Miss

Kicks for Autism kicks off

Click to comment

College Sports

Alex Cooper's alma mater responds after she accuses college soccer coach of sexual harassment

Days after Alex Cooper accused her former college soccer coach of sexual harassment, Boston University has responded. The host of the popular “Call Her Daddy” podcast, who made the allegations in a two-part Hulu documentary that premiered Tuesday after screening Sunday at the Tribeca Film Festival, played Division I soccer at the university for three […]

Published

4 hours ago

June 13, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Alex Cooper's alma mater responds after she accuses college soccer coach of sexual harassment

Days after Alex Cooper accused her former college soccer coach of sexual harassment, Boston University has responded.

The host of the popular “Call Her Daddy” podcast, who made the allegations in a two-part Hulu documentary that premiered Tuesday after screening Sunday at the Tribeca Film Festival, played Division I soccer at the university for three years, during which time Cooper claims coach Nancy Feldman made inappropriate comments about her body and sex life, engaged in controlling behavior and touched her thigh.

“Nancy Feldman was someone I trusted. Someone I believed in. Someone who was supposed to help me grow. Someone who was supposed to protect me,” Cooper wrote Thursday on Instagram. “But instead she made my life a living hell and abused her power over me.”

In the same post, Cooper said she reported the abuse to athletic director Drew Marrochello, who she said ignored her complaints. The university addressed the allegations in a statement obtained Thursday by People and other news outlets.

“Boston University has a zero-tolerance policy for sexual harassment. We have a robust system of resources, support and staff dedicated to student wellbeing and a thorough reporting process through our Equal Opportunity Office,” the statement reads. “We encourage members of our community to report any concerns, and we remain committed to fostering a safe and secure campus environment for all.”

While Cooper’s documentary began as a way to show behind-the-scenes footage of her 2023 Unwell Tour, a visit to Boston University — specifically the soccer field — brought her emotions back to the surface, she said in Tuesday’s brief episode of “Call Her Daddy” titled “My College Soccer Trauma.”

“The minute I stepped on that field, I felt so small,” Cooper said. “I felt like I was 18 years old again, completely powerless, with no voice.”

Cooper said “everything changed” when she discovered that other women had alleged similar experiences with Feldman. She decided that she needed to come forward after talking to one of the women.

“If a woman in my position, who has power and a platform, is still fearful, is still scared of speaking out about my own lived experience of sexual harassment, how the hell will any other woman feel safe and confident to come forward?” Cooper asked in the episode.

Since “Call Her Alex” premiered, TikTok user @sizzlinghotsarah shared her own experience with Feldman, alleging that the soccer coach harassed her for her sexuality. Cooper responded to the post, “I’m sick I’m so sorry she did this to you. Reaching out to u privately.”

More in U.S.

Feldman retired in 2022, but Cooper claims the harassment continues under her successor.

“Call Her Alex” also traces her journey to becoming one of the top podcasters in the world. Featured in the documentary are Cooper’s former co-host Sofia Franklyn, husband Matt Kaplan, lifelong friend Lauren McMullen, who is an executive producer on the podcast, and Dave Portnoy, founder of Barstool Sports — the previous home of “Call Her Daddy.”

Cooper has become known for her revelatory interviews with everyone from Hailey Bieber and Paris Hilton to Monica Lewinsky and Jane Goodall. Last year, Cooper sat down with then-Vice President and presidential hopeful Kamala Harris — chronicled in the documentary.

Cooper created her own podcast network, Unwell, in 2023 and has hired emerging talent including Madeline Argy, Owen Thiele and Alix Earle, who abruptly left in February. In August 2024, Cooper signed a $125-million deal with SiriusXM.

Get notified when the biggest stories in Hollywood, culture and entertainment go live. Sign up for L.A. Times entertainment alerts.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

College Sports

Alex Cooper alleges sexual harassment; Boston University responds

Published

4 hours ago

June 13, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Alex Cooper alleges sexual harassment; Boston University responds

Days after Alex Cooper accused her former college soccer coach of sexual harassment, Boston University has responded.

In an interview with the Boston Globe, Cooper claimed that when she and other teammates contracted mononucleosis, also known as the “kissing disease,” she was the only one Feldman called into her office to ask who she had been with. According to Cooper, she pleaded for then-assistant coach Casey Brown to help her, but Brown did nothing.

In a statement to the Globe, Brown said she had “no recollection” of the event.

“But let me be absolutely clear: I would never ignore, dismiss or turn away from anyone — a player, a teammate, a friend, a family member — who sought my help in any capacity,” Brown told the Globe. “As a coach, I understood the weight of my responsibility to protect my players and act accordingly. The suggestion that I would do otherwise is completely false.”

“The minute I stepped on that field, I felt so small,” Cooper said. “I felt like I was 18 years old again, completely powerless, with no voice.”

Cooper said “everything changed” when she discovered that other women had alleged similar experiences with Feldman. She decided that she needed to come forward after talking to one of the women.

Feldman retired in 2022, but Cooper claims the harassment continues under her successor.

College Sports

Local athletes challenge NCAA settlement, citing Title IX violations

Published

4 hours ago

June 13, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Local athletes challenge NCAA settlement, citing Title IX violations

College Sports

College of Charleston athletes challenge NCAA settlement, citing Title IX violations

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) — Six College of Charleston athletes are appealing a nearly $3 billion antitrust settlement with the NCAA over name, image and likeness. The settlement was approved last week, clearing the way for colleges and universities to directly pay their student athletes who were previously banned from making NIL money. But some attorneys […]

Published

5 hours ago

June 13, 2025

Your Sports Nation

College of Charleston athletes challenge NCAA settlement, citing Title IX violations

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) — Six College of Charleston athletes are appealing a nearly $3 billion antitrust settlement with the NCAA over name, image and likeness.

The settlement was approved last week, clearing the way for colleges and universities to directly pay their student athletes who were previously banned from making NIL money. But some attorneys argue it violates Title IX and that female athletes would not get their fair share in back pay.

Lexi Drumm, Emmie Wannemacher and Savannah Barron have grown up on the soccer field.

It wasn’t until college that they noticed different treatment towards women’s sports.

“The comparison every single day, it became disheartening and discouraging for female athletes and especially myself,” Drumm explained.

Through the $2.7 billion settlement, schools will be able to share roughly $20.5 million among athletes in year one. Of that, football and men’s basketball players are expected to take home the most NIL pay back.

The argument is that more people watch their games, bringing in more revenue, therefore these athletes should be paid more.

While Drumm said she understands the argument, she and her teammates say it’s a product of a much larger issue – disparities in the attention and resources given to men’s and women’s sports.

“When you give non-revenue generating sports opportunity, they’ve shown that they can produce revenue and it kind of shatters the myth that women’s sports and non-revenue generating sports can’t provide a profit for the school,” Barron said.

While Barron and her teammates said they’ve had a positive experience playing college soccer, they admit it’s hard not to compare female and male athletes.

“Noticing how they traveled from game to game, how we traveled game from game, the days we even played our games, the times we played our games,” Wannemacher explained.

These are all things Wannemacher said she had never chalked up to being tied to Title IX, until now.

“As a female athlete you were just kind of taught this is what you get and you take what you get and run with it,” she said.

For these athletes, appealing isn’t about money. Drumm said it’s about righting a wrong.

“Title IX is supposed to be a safeguard to make sure that female and male athletes have the same opportunities or have equitable opportunities and it’s been so long ignored,” she added.

The three College of Charleston graduates said regardless of their outcome in court, the appeal has sparked important conversations.

They hope it can make a lasting impact and encourage young female athletes to stay in the game.

“Knowing that they’re valued and important can take the whole state of women’s athletics to another level,” Drumm said.

The appeal, along with multiple others, won’t stop universities from paying current athletes starting July 1, but it will pause payments going to former athletes. It would be heard in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

The College of Charleston declined to comment Friday.

College Sports

Alex Cooper

Podcast star Alex Cooper decided to speak out about being allegedly sexually harassed by her Boston University soccer coach because “there was no accountability, no investigation and no justice,” and warned, “I’m coming for all of you.” In Cooper’s docuseries, “Call Her Alex,” which released on Hulu this week, she alleged her college soccer coach, […]

Published

7 hours ago

June 13, 2025

Your Sports Nation

In Cooper’s docuseries, “Call Her Alex,” which released on Hulu this week, she alleged her college soccer coach, Nancy Feldman, sexually harassed her.

In a new statement on Instagram Thursday, Cooper said the harassment lasted for three years while she was a student.

“Nancy Feldman was someone I trusted. Someone I believed in. Someone who was supposed to help me grow. Someone who was supposed to protect me,” Cooper wrote.

“But instead she made my life a living hell and abused her power over me. She stripped me of my identity and took away what I had worked my entire life for because she didn’t control herself. This defined my life for a decade and impacted her life 0%,” the post continued.

Cooper played on the team from 2013 to 2015, according to the BU women’s soccer website. Feldman retired in 2022 after 27 years at the university.

In the docuseries she alleged Feldman “fixated” on her, wanted to know who she was dating, made comments about her body, put her hand on Cooper’s thigh and wanted to be alone with her. Feldman once allegedly questioned Cooper about a date and asked whether she had had sex the night before.

Feldman could not be immediately reached by phone or email Friday.

The media star said she had reported the abuse to the athletic director, Drew Marrochello, but to no resolve.

“I was turned away and ignored,” she said. Marrochello did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday.

Boston University on Friday told NBC News the school has a “zero-tolerance policy for sexual harassment.”

“We have a robust system of resources, support and staff dedicated to student wellbeing and a thorough reporting process through our Equal Opportunity Office. We encourage members of our community to report any concerns, and we remain committed to fostering a safe and secure campus environment for all,” the school said, without directly addressing Cooper’s claims.

The straw that broke the camel’s back for Cooper, she said, was when she learned harassment was still impacting her beloved soccer team.

“When I found out the harassment and abuse was STILL happening on that campus today … I knew I needed to share my story,” Cooper wrote. “This is no longer just about me, this is systemic.”

Cooper went on to say that she’s speaking out to be a voice for those who feel they’ve lost theirs.

“When this initially happened to me I felt like I had no voice. But that is no longer the case. Now I’m coming for all of you who abused your power over innocent young individuals,” Cooper continued. “Nancy Feldman, you will no longer be able to hide in the shadows and get away unscathed from the calculated pain you caused me and so many other women.”

“Because when I was 18 years old, dismissed and ignored by Boston University, I prayed and wished someone with a voice would have held my hand and helped me through the darkest time in my life. Daddy Gang, I got you,” she said.

College Sports

Wolverines Announce 12 Additions to 2025 Roster

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — University of Michigan men’s soccer head coach Chaka Daley announced Friday (June 13), the addition of eight freshmen and four transfers to the roster for the upcoming 2025 season. “We are very excited to welcome these young men to the University of Michigan men’s soccer program,” said Daley. “They all have […]

Published

8 hours ago

June 13, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Wolverines Announce 12 Additions to 2025 Roster

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — University of Michigan men’s soccer head coach Chaka Daley announced Friday (June 13), the addition of eight freshmen and four transfers to the roster for the upcoming 2025 season.

“We are very excited to welcome these young men to the University of Michigan men’s soccer program,” said Daley. “They all have the potential to succeed academically, be significant contributors on the field in their own time, and they will be great ambassadors of our program in the Ann Arbor community. Our staff has done a tremendous job of finding the right combination of character, competitor, and student-athlete that will complement our returning group, who remain very hungry to compete at the highest level of college soccer.”

Beau Barren | GK | 6-0 | Overland Park, Kan. (Blue Valley North) | Sporting KC Academy

• Competed with Sporting KC Academy from U15 through U19 Age Groups
• Joined SKC II for the 2025 season signing an MLS Next Pro amateur contract (5/16)
• Two-time Generation Adidas Cup participant in 2022 and 2023
• Played in the MLS Next Cup Playoffs in three different seasons (2022-24)/p>

Daley on Barren: “Beau has a very competitive mentality and infectious personality. He is an agile shot-stopper with great instincts and athleticism, which will help him transition well to the collegiate level.”

Drew Diebolt | D | 6-0 | Caledonia, Mich. (Caledonia) | Columbus Crew Academy

• Competed with Columbus Crew Academy in the U17s age group
• Currently with Midwest United FC U19s
• MLS NEXT Flex – Best of Under 19s selection in 2025
• Named MIHSSCA “Dream Team” and MIHSSCA All-State first team
• Earned All-District, All-Region and All-Conference honors at Caledonia

Daley on Diebolt: “Drew is a versatile and technically strong defender, playing as a center-back but more often as a left-back in his club career. His strength, physicality, and aggressiveness will be a great addition to our group.”

Tamer Ibsais | D | 5-8 | Eden Prairie, Minn. (Eden Prairie) | MN United FC Academy

• Competed with Minnesota United FC Academy from 2021-24
• Signed MLS Next Pro amateur contract with MNUFC 2, making 16 appearances (nine starts) in 2024 MLS NEXT Pro regular-season action
• Called up to U20 Palestine National Team in 2024
• Won group at Generation Adidas Cup and qualified for the Round of 16 in 2022

Daley on Ibsais: “We were fortunate to have Tamer join our program during this past spring season. He has transitioned very well playing in every game during our College Spring League. Our staff is very excited to watch Tamer grow, as he has already impressed his teammates and the staff with his tenacity, technical sharpness and tactical awareness.”

Patrick Los | GK | 5-11 | Plainfield, Ill. (Plainfield North) | Chicago Fire FC II

• Competed for Chicago Fire FC for nine seasons (2017-25)
• Topdrawer Soccer 4-Star recruit — No. 46 Nationally, No. 3 Goalkeeper and No. 1 Midwest
• Started in 19 games for Chicago Fire FC II in 2024 and 11 games in the 2025 season
• Two-time MLS Next Pro Goalkeeper of the Month honoree in 2024
• Called up to U.S. Youth National Team four times since 2023 in the U16s, U17s, and U18s

Daley on Los: “Patrick brings a wealth of experience with a very impressive resume, competing in the academy, MLS Next Pro and youth national team levels. One of the top goalkeepers in the country in his class, he plays with a maturity and IQ beyond his years. Patrick will have an immediate impact on an already strong goalkeeping corps.”

Guy Michaeli | F | 6-2 | Dallas, Texas (Akiba Yavneh Academy) | Hapoel Tel Aviv

• Played for Sporting KC Academy and Dallas Texans Academy
• Top scorer at Sporting KC Academy and second-youngest goal scorer at Sporting KC II
• Represented the U.S. at the 2022 Maccabiah Games in Israel and helped its U-18 boys’ soccer team earn a silver medal
• Signed an Amateur contract with Hapoel Tel Aviv in his gap year
• Started for U19’s and made multiple appearances with Hapoel Tel Aviv first team

Daley on Michaeli: “Guy has an excellent profile of a traditional center forward (No. 9) in the best way. He is strong, athletic, has very good hold-up-link-up play, and is always a threat to score in the box. He has succeeded at every level thus far, and we are excited to add his hunger, threat, and scoring abilities to our attack.”

Nicholas Nobles | D | 5-10 | Montgomery, Ill. (Salt Lake Academy High School) | Real Salt Lake Academy

• Competed for Real Salt Lake Academy from 2022-24
• Topdrawer Soccer 3-Star recruit — Top 100 Nationally, No. 11 Rocky Mountains and Southwest
• Started and played for Real Monarchs MLS NEXT Pro at age 15
• Named MLS NEXT Rising Star of the Matchday in 2023
• Called up to United States U15 National Team

Daley on Nobles: “We were excited to welcome Nick to our program during this past spring season as well. His passing abilities, combined with his defensive qualities, competitiveness and IQ offer us tremendous flexibility in midfield, and in the back when needed. We are eager to see his impact and growth on the field and as a leader during his career.”

Joah Reyna | M | 5-10 | Austin, Texas (Laurel Springs) | Austin FC Academy

• Competed with Austin FC Academy from 2021-25
• Co-Captain of Austin FC U18 Academy Team
• Played in MLS Next Playoffs and Generation Adidas Cup with Austin FC
• Trained with Austin FC II (MLS NEXT Pro), Dortmund Academy (Germany) and Koln Academy (Germany)

Daley on Reyna: “Joah is a very crafty attacking midfielder who can play centrally or on the wing. He has a very high soccer IQ, providing both a threat in the attack and controlling tempo in possession. His spatial awareness, creativity and versatility in the front of the team will have an impact in our group very early in his college career.”

Jake Tatch | F | 5-7 | Aliso Viejo, Calif. (JSerra Catholic) | Pateadores SC

• Competed with Jserra Catholic High and Pateadores SC (ECNL)
• Named 2024-25 Gatorade California Boys Soccer Player of the Year
• Named Orange County Player of the Year in 2024
• Served as co-captain for JSerra High, United Soccer Coaches No. 1 prep team in the nation
• Topdrawer Soccer 3-Star recruit — Top 125 Nationally, No. 17 Southern California

Daley on Tatch: “Jake is a very aggressive attacking winger. He often creates goal-scoring opportunities with his 1v1 abilities, whether it’s beating his defender to serve dangerous crosses in the box or finishing himself. We are very excited to add his quality and dynamism to our program.”

Raymundo Mendez | M | 5-9 | Yakima, Wash. (Seattle Pacific) | Yakima Sharks

• 2024 GNAC Player of the Year, two-time first team All-GNAC, D2CAA first team All-West Region
• Played two seasons at Seattle Pacific and two seasons at Columbia Basin (JC)
• NWAC East Region’s Most Valuable Player, two-time NWAC All-Star Midfielder honoree
• Tallied 26 goals and five assists in two seasons at SPU; 117 career points (48 goals, 21 assists) in four college seasons

Daley on Mendez: “Ray is an electrifying attacking midfield player that is a proven goal scorer at the college level. Ray is an excellent finisher and is a player that adds quality and unpredictability to our attack. We are looking forward to welcoming Ray to the team and believe he will make an impact and complement our attacking group.”

Mitar Mitrovic | M | 6-2 | Belgrade, Serbia (Marquette) | Indiana Fire Academy

• Played three seasons at Marquette from 2022-24, appearing in 45 games
• Scored eight goals and tallied five assists with the Golden Eagles
• Named to Big East All-Academic team in 2023-24
• Member of Serbian Youth National Team

Daley on Mitrovic: “Mitar arrives in Ann Arbor with a tremendous amount of college experience. He is a midfielder who has a high level of game understanding, complemented with real quality to provide goals and assists. His passion and mentality are second to none, and we can’t wait to watch him compete for Michigan in the Big Ten.”

Michael Ramirez | F | 5-10 | Chicago, Ill. (Northwestern) | Chicago Fire Academy

• Played one season at Northwestern, appearing in 15 games as a freshman
• Topdrawer Soccer 3-Star recruit — Top 150 Nationally in 2024
• Made appearances for Chicago Fire FC U-17 and U-19 squads
• Trained with Chicago Fire FC II

Daley on Ramirez: “Michael is a left-footed forward who can play anywhere across the front line. Michael has the ability to beat players in 1v1 situations and is an excellent finisher. We are looking forward to watching Michael grow in our environment — his previous experiences in the Big Ten will pay major dividends.”

Shuma Sasaki | M | 5-7 | Kawasaki, Japan (University of the Cumberlands) | New Mexico United

• Played four seasons with the University of the Cumberlands, appearing in 69 games and starting 64 matches, scoring 12 goals and notching 25 assists
• Named MSC first team All-Conference as a senior in 2024 and CSC second team Academic All-American, and Daktronics-NAIA Scholar-Athlete
• Logged 1,697 minutes in 2024
• University of Cumberlands ranked No. 4 in the NAIA Post Season Coaches Poll, made NAIA final four

Daley on Sasaki: “Shuma is a dynamic winger who can play on either side of the pitch. He is a direct and lively player that loves to attack defenders. Shuma has a great deal of experience in college, and back home in his country. He will be a tremendous addition to our program.”