The Royal Watch: Utah to host coaching course for NWSL players, Desiree Scott injury, & random bits

I don’t know about you, but I am really missing Utah Royals FC games, even if sometimes they had me at the edge of my seat. The good news is that it will be March before we know it; the bad news is that we have winter to get through.

Anyway! Welcome to your weekly edition of The Royal Watch, a one-stop column for news surrounding Utah Royals FC.

Utah to host first U.S. Soccer C License Coaching Course for NWSL players

News broke yesterday that U.S. Soccer, the NWSL, and Utah Royals FC are partnering to provide a professional 10-week U.S Soccer C License coaching course, cost-free, to 21 NWSL players. It’s funded by individual donors to U.S. Soccer and the U.S. Soccer Devolopment Fund in an effort to develop the next generation of coaches. Basically, it’s a neat opportunity for more women coaches to enter the profession.

Classroom learning and field sessions will take place at Zions Bank Real Academy Training Center September 30-October 7. Players will then return to their home environment for an eight-week mentorship period. The course then concludes with a final in-person assessmnent at Real Academy from December 7-9.

Nicole Barnhart, Mandy Laddish, Abby Smith, and Becca Moros are all set to take part and will be joined by 18 fellow NWSL players.

• Nicole Barnhart (Utah Royals FC)
• Elizabeth Eddy (NC Courage)
• Amanda Frisbie (Sky Blue FC)
• Ashley Hatch (Washington Spirit)
• Darian Jenkins (NC Courage)
• Sammy Jo Prudhomme (Houston Dash)
• Haley Kopmeyer (Orlando Pride)
• Ali Krieger (Orlando Pride)
• Mandy Laddish (Utah Royals FC)
• Alyssa Mautz (Chicago Red Stars)
• Meg Morris (Portland Thorns)
• Rebecca Morros (Utah Royals FC)
• Heather O’Reilly (NC Courage)
• Francisca Ordega (Washington Spirit)
• Angela Salem (Portland Thorns)
• Abby Smith (Utah Royals FC)
• Michele Vasconcelos (Chicago Red Stars)
• Mallory Weber (Portland Thorns)
• Tiffany Weimer (Washington Spirit)
• Rosie White (Chicago Red Stars)
• Beverly (Goebel) Yanez (Seattle Reign)

Desiree Scott suffers foot injury

On Wednesday, we found out that Desiree Scott suffered a fracture in her foot during Canada’s first day of training camp in preparation for World Cup qualifying. Her foot was stepped on during a tackle, resulting in a small bone fragment coming loose. Scott is expected to be out 6-8 weeks.

Scott has 135 caps for Canada and is a major presence in their midfield. Canada is expected to win their Group B of the CONCACAF Women’s Championship, and they’ll likely face the U.S. Women’s National Team in the championship.

Scott addressed the incident on Twitter:

Random bits

• The U.S. Women’s National Team is set to start World Cup qualifying on October 4. Becky Sauerbrunn, Kelley O’Hara, and Christen Press are on the roster, so we’ll be keeping track of that tournament here on RSL Soapbox.
• I was in Portland this past weekend for the NWSL Championship where the North Carolina Courage beat the Portland Thorns 3-0. It was quite the atmosphere at Providence Park. Portland had this unique support for their women’s club team that is inspiring. I hope other NWSL cities truly begin to embrace their clubs more. It may not quite look like Providence Park, but they should do their best to rival it, and I really believe Utah may be the place that comes close.
• I’m not ready for fall. Give me 90+ degree weather any day!