Moms Emulate Kids’ Talent in Soccer Moms League

Moms Emulate Kids’ Talent in Soccer Moms League

[June 22, 2015 – Harmon, Guam] – For many mothers who play in the Docomo Pacific GFA Soccer Moms League, the recognized athletic talent of their children oftentimes precedes them, creating certain expectations from teammates and opponents alike.

“When I first joined my team in the league, I would feel a little intimidated when some of my teammates would tell me, wow, your daughter is such a good player, maybe she got it from you and they would think I knew how to play,” said the Momsters’ Dee Shippey, mother of three soccer-playing children, including Franshay Shippey, IIAAG Girls High School Soccer League championship match MVP and youth national team player. “I actually never played soccer before until I joined the Soccer Moms League. I always tell others that the passion my children have to play the sport are really from them and I just support them when they play.

“Since joining the Soccer Moms League, I’ve been learning more and more about the sport from a player’s perspective, which I think also helps me as a youth coach,” Dee Shippey added.

In addition to cheering on her children who all play for Quality Distributors FC on Saturdays during the youth league seasons over the years, Shippey also was coaching, beginning at the U6 level. Shippey now coaches at the U12 level assisting Michelle Nadler, who also is her coach in the Soccer Moms League. Shippey feels that by having the opportunity to be on the receiving end of all the coaching directives and motivational talks from Nadler as a player, she better understands her role as a coach with her club’s youth teams. Other than learning more about playing soccer and coaching youth teams, Shippey said she will continue to play in the league because it’s fun and hopes more will join, too.

The Soccer Moms League restarted Sunday at the Guam Football Association National Training Center after a two-week hiatus for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers played at GFA. Shippey and many of her teammates on the Momsters team stayed connected to the sport through the break as volunteers for the historical events held in Guam, where the Matao first defeated Turkmenistan 1-0 and next, India 2-1, to emerge as leader of their Qualifier group, which also includes I.R. Iran, Asia’s top country, and Oman.

Other teams in the Soccer Moms League that resumed play Sunday were the Docomoms, Femme Fatale, Queen Cobras, Lady Bombers, Supersonics, Pika Moms, Wings Momdeshiko Red, Wings Momdeshiko White, Team Ifit, Tsunami Thunder, Tsunami Crash, Islander Moms, Sidekick Sirenas, Crush Hers, and Team United. The teams will play their final set of matches Jun. 28 at GFA.

As the Soccer Moms League comes to a close Jun. 28, other GFA leagues will begin this weekend. The Bud Light Co-Ed Masters Soccer League begins 6 p.m. Saturday and features five teams – Rovers Masters, Big Blue Masters, Strykers Masters, IT&E, and the United Masters. Bud Light Women’s Futsal League begins 2 p.m. Sunday at the Guam Sports Complex Gym with seven teams – Lady Strykers, Doosan Lady Crushers, Lady Rovers, Quality Distributors FC, Southern Heat, Hyundai, and Pika Soccer Club. Land Shark Beach Soccer League action begins 2 p.m. Jul. 5 with four teams – Quality Distributors FC, Crushers FC, Strykers FC, and Doosan FC.

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The Momsters defender Dee Shippey focuses on tracking the ball and the movement of her Femme Fatale opponent during a Week 6 match of the Docomo Pacific GFA Soccer Moms League at the Guam Football Association National Training Center Sunday. The league resumed play after taking a two-week break in preparation for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers played in Guam last week.

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The Tsunami Thunder and the Islander Moms play in a Week 6 match of the Docomo Pacific GFA Soccer Moms League at the Guam Football Association National Training Center Sunday. The league resumed play after taking a two-week break in preparation for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers played in Guam last week.

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The Sidekick Sirenas and the Wings Momdeshiko White play in a Week 6 match of the Docomo Pacific GFA Soccer Moms League at the Guam Football Association National Training Center Sunday. The league resumed play after taking a two-week break in preparation for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers played in Guam last week.

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The Lady Bombers and the Queen Cobras play in a Week 6 match of the Docomo Pacific GFA Soccer Moms League at the Guam Football Association National Training Center Sunday. The league resumed play after taking a two-week break in preparation for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers played in Guam last week.

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Pika Moms and the Supersonics play in a Week 6 match of the Docomo Pacific GFA Soccer Moms League at the Guam Football Association National Training Center Sunday. The league resumed play after taking a two-week break in preparation for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers played in Guam last week.

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Tsunami Crash and the Docomoms play in a Week 6 match of the Docomo Pacific GFA Soccer Moms League at the Guam Football Association National Training Center Sunday. The league resumed play after taking a two-week break in preparation for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers played in Guam last week.

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The Wings Momdeshiko Red and Team Ifit play in a Week 6 match of the Docomo Pacific GFA Soccer Moms League at the Guam Football Association National Training Center Sunday. The league resumed play after taking a two-week break in preparation for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers played in Guam last week.