<\/p>\n
As soccer continues to rapidly grow in America, that means different iterations of the game will ascend as well. This is the case for beach soccer<\/a>, which is on the upswing, thanks in large part to its support from FIFA.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n One of the most prominent figures you can look to when evaluating the future of beach soccer is Morgan Church. Church, a former player, has become one of the faces of beach soccer in America, helping put the U.S. Women\u2019s National Beach Soccer Team<\/a> on the map.<\/span><\/p>\n From Georgia, Church displayed real knowledge and skill for soccer from the beginning, earning her the ability to play at the collegiate level. She would spend time playing for Marshall and University of Charleston, before finishing her college years at Berry College, where she would go on to post a team-leading 12 goals.<\/span><\/p>\n After college, Church then made the transition to playing professional soccer, where she would spend time playing in the USL W-League. She would play for four squads during her time in the W-League, most notably taking part in a championship run with the Washington Freedom. <\/span>Once Church was ready to hang up the cleats and retire from playing the game, she immediately made the jump to coaching.<\/span><\/p>\n Church would start out working as an assistant commissioner with the Freedom, the very club she had just won a W-League Championship with. However, her first coaching gig came at the collegiate level.<\/span><\/p>\n In 2006, Church started as an assistant coach with the University of North Florida, where she would spend roughly eight years. After the first five years with the Ospreys, Church upgraded and became the Associate Head Coach in 2011. In her time there, she helped coach 12 players to Atlantic Sun All-Conference honors.<\/span><\/p>\n Church then made the move to assistant coach at Gonzaga University, where she would spend a couple more years. Following her time in Spokane with Gonzaga, Church would spend a handful of years bouncing around. This included a couple of smaller coaching gigs and even some time commentating for the NWSL. However, after this stretch, Morgan Church\u2019s coaching career took off, leading to her current standing.<\/p>\n In 2021, Church would start as the Technical Director with Jacksonville FC, a position she would hold until 2024. While in Jacksonville, she would also work with the U.S. Soccer Federation. This is how Church would eventually take over as the U.S. Women\u2019s Beach Soccer head coaching position in 2021, as well as serving as an assistant coach for some youth national teams.<\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n As beach soccer takes off in America, Church is majorly helping the movement, coaching these women\u2019s national teams to international competitions. This includes an unbelievable 2023 campaign, in which the squad won the Acapulco Beach Soccer Tournament. Additionally, Church has spent time coaching in the National Beach Soccer League, further showing her commitment to growing this up-and-coming variation of the game.<\/span><\/p>\n Aside from beach soccer, Church is also serving as a Technical Development Manager with the U.S. Soccer Federation, cementing herself as one the brightest names in American soccer currently. She is one of the brightest figures in the growth of beach soccer, alongside having given U.S. soccer contributions elsewhere throughout other coaching and directing positions. As the beautiful game continues to evolve, Morgan Church is helping this evolution in a unique way, and it all starts with her role in the growth of American beach soccer.<\/span><\/p>\n Featured image via @mchurch9<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n <\/div>\nImpact on the Pitch Before Coaching<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n
Starting the Coaching Collegiately\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Becoming a Key Figure in American Soccer<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n
_<\/h4>\n
GIRLS SOCCER NETWORK: YOUR SOURCE FOR GIRLS SOCCER NEWS<\/h4>\n