Hi! I'm Kelly. I played professional soccer , am a private soccer trainer and certified personal trainer and group fitness instructor. I have a passion for soccer, fitness and working with young women.
I grew up in Palo Alto, CA and started playing soccer when I was 4 years old. As a youngster, I was always kicking the soccer ball around
Hi! I'm Kelly. I played professional soccer , am a private soccer trainer and certified personal trainer and group fitness instructor. I have a passion for soccer, fitness and working with young women.
I grew up in Palo Alto, CA and started playing soccer when I was 4 years old. As a youngster, I was always kicking the soccer ball around at recess, or trying out every sport from flag football and kickball to basketball and softball. As I stuck with soccer, I grew to appreciate the physicality of the sport, the athleticism involved and the room for creativity on the field.
I graduated from Palo Alto High School in 2010, where I competed on the varsity soccer and softball teams all 4 years. I also played on competitive club teams for both sports, and my high school afternoons consisted of lots of studying while driving from soccer practices to softball practices, and vice versa. I was blessed to have parents and coaches who supported my goals and pushed me to become the best athlete I could be. I was encouraged to pursue both sports at the highest levels.
It was during my formative high school years that my competitive nature and serious worth ethic took shape. I never let any player outwork me, and was the first and last one at every practice. I did everything I could to put myself in a position to play soccer at the college level, keeping in mind my ultimate dream of playing professionally at some point.
I played 2 years of soccer at Santa Clara University, the school of my dreams (2010-2012) before transferring to California Baptist University (2012-2014). Playing at Santa Clara was an eye-opening experience. I was thrown into one of the most competitive soccer environments in the country, while playing alongside some of the best players in the U.S. At Santa Clara, I realized the importance of having mental toughness. I was forced to learn how to handle adversity, while pushing myself to my limits. I gained immense knowledge and life skills from my coach, Jerry Smith, and after transferring to California Baptist was able to apply those insights in a new environment. At Cal Baptist, all the pieces came together- the mental side of my game, the physical skills, and the technical and tactical advice I'd received. I loved my time at Cal Baptist. My college experience was exactly how it was supposed to be.
After graduation, I saw my dream of playing professionally come to fruition when I signed my first professional contract with a club in Finland in 2015. I loved being immersed in a new culture and diving into a new team environment and training style. I embraced the challenge of being one of only three Americans on the squad, brought in with high expectations from the coaches to contribute right away. MY experiences up to that point, had prepared me for it.
Following a successful first season in Finland, I signed with a very competitive club in Sweden. I played as a target forward and learned the systematic, Swedish soccer system. I enjoyed living in the land of my ancestors, but following my season in Sweden, was in search of some warmer weather. I headed to Australia in 2017, where I played for the Peninsula Power FC and met some of the friendliest people! Our team won the league championship and I had a wonderful time with the Aussies in the land down under.
My time overseas has opened my eyes in many ways. I've seen how impactful soccer can be in the lives of those who play it. Soccer can knock you down, it can break you, it can build you up and it can reveal to you who you are, and who you want to become. It truly is a universal language, allowing people to come together and relate on so many levels, regardless of race, culture or country of origin.
Since landing back in the U.S., I've made it my goal to share the experiences I've had with the next generation of soccer players. I hope to guide young female soccer players in reaching their full potential. Soccer isn't just a game... it can grow you, challenge you, and help you become a better person and player. And if you have the passion and are willing to put in the work, no dream is too big!
I believe at the root of it all, nothing can replace hard work. Goal setting and discipline shaped my soccer success over the years. I've also seen that having a strong work ethic, is only part of it. Surrounding yourself with positive influencers who are going to encourage you, challenge you and teach you, can take your game to the next
I believe at the root of it all, nothing can replace hard work. Goal setting and discipline shaped my soccer success over the years. I've also seen that having a strong work ethic, is only part of it. Surrounding yourself with positive influencers who are going to encourage you, challenge you and teach you, can take your game to the next level.
As a coach, I believe in challenging my players to dream big, set attainable goals, then work hard to reach them. From years of competing, I've seen that one of the most important life skills a player can gain, is confidence: having the confidence to fearlessly apply yourself to anything you are passionate about, on and off the soccer field.
Having competed alongside some exceptional players, I've seen that each player needs a solid base in the 4 categories of ability: technical, tactical, physical and mental. Invariably, soccer is not a one mold fits all and each player has unique abilities in all four categories. Maybe you are an excellent passer, have the footwork of Messi or the speed of Usain Bolt. Maybe you have a knack for putting the ball in the back of the net (Wambach is my all-time favorite player), are a defensive stalwart, or maybe you are a vocal and incredible leader on the field. My job, is to recognize those gifts in my players, feed those strengths and minimize weaknesses, and in turn, promote self-confidence and success on and off the field.
Coaching Experience
Professional
Professional
College
Palo Alto High School
Redcliffe, Australia
Kokkola, Finland
Riverside, California