Empowering the Next Generation: EAFC’s Female Athlete Mentorship Program

At Eastshore Alliance FC (EAFC), we believe that supporting female athletes goes far beyond training sessions and match days. True development means creating intentional spaces where girls feel confident, supported, and empowered both on and off the field.

In honor of National Girls and Women in Sports Day, we are proud to highlight our Female Athlete Mentorship Program, an initiative focused on connection, leadership, and empowerment across our girls soccer program.

A Thoughtfully Designed Mentorship Model

EAFC’s Female Athlete Mentorship Program is built with purpose and care. Teams are paired approximately three years apart in age, creating a clear and relatable progression of mentorship: Elementary school-aged teams are paired with middle school-aged teams and middle school-aged teams are paired with high school-aged teams.

This layered structure allows each player to experience mentorship from both perspectives — learning from someone just ahead of them while eventually stepping into a leadership role themselves.

For many players, stepping into that mentor role is transformative. Erica Ehmann, Vice President of the Board of Directors and EAFC parent, shared:

“[My daughter] took a great deal of pride and care to ensure she was the best mentor possible to her 2016 player. Being someone to look up to helped her bring her best self to the field.”

Mentor and mentee pairings are selected thoughtfully, considering personalities, leadership styles, and individual needs. The goal is to foster genuine relationships where players feel comfortable asking questions, seeking guidance, and supporting one another through both challenges and successes.

More Than Soccer: Conversations That Matter

The program goes beyond soccer-specific development. Through guided conversations and shared experiences, players explore what it truly means to be a female athlete. Conversation topics include challenges girls and women face in sport; navigating confidence, self-belief, and identity; experiences of female athletes, coaches, administrators, and front-office leaders; and brainstorming ways to challenge barriers and support one another. These discussions help identify the realities female athletes encounter while empowering players to be advocates for themselves, their teammates, and the next generation.

Support Through Every Stage of the Journey

One of the most powerful aspects of the program is how mentorship shows up during challenging moments, not just the easy ones. When athletes face setbacks, such as an injury or loss of confidence, their mentors often become a critical source of encouragement.

“When my daughter faced an injury part way through the season, her 2010 mentor was a shining light of positivity, guidance, and support. She was instrumental in helping my daughter find her way through injury and emerge again as a confident player.” ~ Erica Ehmann, EAFC parent

Community, Connection, and Celebration

The impact of the program is felt across multiple age groups, with the aim to expand to include all ages. Younger players gain confidence by seeing what lies ahead. Older players develop leadership, empathy, and accountability, understanding that their presence and attitude truly matter.

The program culminates in shared experiences that bring all three age groups together to celebrate mentorship, community, and growth. “The culminating event with the three teams cheering each other on at a match and then enjoying a potluck together was priceless,” Erica shared. These moments strengthen bonds across teams and create lasting memories that extend beyond a single session.

Building Confident Athletes and Leaders

The Female Athlete Mentorship Program reflects EAFC’s commitment to developing the whole person. By prioritizing mentorship, leadership, and open dialogue, we aim to ensure every girl in our club feels supported, empowered, and proud to be an athlete.

As Erica so powerfully summarized:

“My daughter formed important mentor/mentee relationships for the season, and she learned lessons and developed skills beyond soccer that will last much longer. And, as a parent, I feel so lucky that all of this was just a typical part of her team and club experience.”

On National Girls and Women in Sports Day, we celebrate the strength, resilience, and leadership of our female athletes and our commitment to creating pathways where girls can thrive at every stage of their journey.

#StrongerTogether