I was involved in sports for many years, but will admit that "travel teams" have long turned me off, for their industrial approach to youth sports, for the parent culture they foster and for the degradation of so many local rec leagues that seemed to do just fine before the development of private clubs.

That said, I have a daughter who blossomed into a fierce athlete very casually in middle school. She's strong, fearless, fast and very tall. Naturally she was asked to become a goalie for her school team and in two years learned to thrive in that role. She gets complimented by opposing coaches and parents often and multiple local high schools have expressed that they hope she chooses them and plays soccer there.

Some of her friends play on a certain club team, and she went to some tryouts. There are kids on that team that aren't nearly as athletic, but she tried for goalie. The coach, someone I know and like, was a goalie and loves to coach goalies. We didn't hear anything, and her friends who tried out at the same time did. He left me a long message full of compliments but stating that he has a goalie already who is the best he's ever seen at that age and it wouldn't be fair to put my daughter on the team to have her do all that practice and just sit the bench. He proposed that she do some training with the team and he can work on her technique (she has never received true goalkeeper coaching).

I like idea of getting her training; not sure I can convince her to show up for a team she can't play on, but it could be a good way to get practice without committing to entire weekends full of driving, hotels and tournaments. I do lament that the ecosystem of youth sports outside of rec leagues that have dwindled to next to nothing from their prime has created a win-at-all costs mentality. Try out for a team, pay the fees, and ride the bench. A part of me is fine with saying no, letting her practice as she chooses (she's quite determined and disciplined when it comes to training) and play in high school where I have no doubt she'll thrive. I do feel like the message nowadays is that if you want to have any chance at soccer (or other sports) beyond high school, you have to pay homage to this system, and I regret that. It also seems that, if you're a goalkeeper, your options are more limited when a team, as here, already has its star keeper they are grooming for future recruitment, etc.

I am wandering here, mostly just venting, but figured someone has similar experiences out there.

TL;DR:

• Wednesday, 20 May: Club América vs NJ/NY Gotham FC, 7:30pm EST
• Wednesday, 20 May: Washington Spirit vs CF Pachuca Femenil, 10:30pm EST
• Saturday, 23 May: Third-place match, 6:00pm EST
• Saturday, 23 May: Final, 9:30pm EST

Streaming on Paramount+ in the USA. OneSoccer in Canada. Disney+ in Mexico, Central America, and South America. Concacaf official YouTube channel Outside of the Americas.

Bunny Shaw is presented with her FWA Women's Footballer of the Year award by Manchester City women MD Charlotte O'Neill, and interviewed at the FWA awards night by Joel Beya.

I’m fairly new to womens football as a fan. My native Canada recently got our new top flight last season and I became a father last year so I’ve been keeping an eye on the women’s game, in case, and hopefully, that my daughter someday plays.

I just came to say that Man City’s Yui Hasegawa is one of the best players, men or women I’ve ever seen. She just plays the game I think it should be played, skill, intelligence, grace. She doesn’t foul players, she’s just unbelievably talented. I know she says she idolized Iniesta and it really shows; easily one of my favourite players to watch.

Just some Hasegawa appreciation to put out in the universe. Cheers! 🇨🇦

The 2 best teams in the world will battle for the title this Saturday, May 19th, at 6pm (CEST), in Oslo.

Main broadcaster in Europe is Disney+ and in the Americas it's available on Paramount+. Local channels may also broadcast the game, you can check which it is for your country using this page.