Soccer Star SHANNON MACMILLAN on SoccerNationNews Soccer News

Highly acclaimed, Olympic, World Cup and Hall of Fame soccer star SHANNON MACMILLAN has returned to her hometown of San Diego and looks forward to coaching and sharing her soccer knowledge.

As one of the pioneers in bringing women’s soccer to the forefront of public perception, Shannon MacMillan helped captivate a nation and inspire a whole generation of girls to expand their horizons far beyond traditional limitations. Now she is going to captivate a new generation of youth soccer players.

Now, with an impressive decade of World Cups, Olympics and professional soccer behind her MacMillan is inspiring another generation of girls, most of whom weren’t even born when MacMillan played in the memorable 1999 World Cup victory in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena

First Woman in Hall of Fame

2008 Breitbard Hall of Fame Inductee

"Having grown up in San Diego it was a tremendous moment to have been honored in this fashion with such other amazing athletes from here that I admire," says MacMillian

As Director of Women’s Soccer for the Del Mar Sharks in north San Diego County MacMillan also coaches the girls U-11 team. Few of the girls ever had the chance to see MacMillan play but one thing becomes clear when she shows them how to dribble, pass and shoot during practices: It’s pretty obvious this coach knows what she’s doing.

“I was blessed to have the career I did and then when it ended this opportunity with the Sharks came up,” MacMillan said. “Knowing that they trusted me and let me put my stamp on the teams was very important to me and the reason I decided to do it. I love coaching.”

MacMillan is determined to develop the team-oriented style of play and technical skills that exemplified the historic national team she played on. Her girls will be fundamentally sound, creative and have fun playing. Just like her. She has one basic rule from which she thinks everything else flows: "Just show up."

Shannon MacMillan training tip for soccer players: "Juggle, juggle and juggle some more. Whether it is before practice, at home or at the beach the more touches you get,the more comfortable you are with the ball and the more confident you are in the game."

“What will I ask them to do each day? Show up. They will never be able to control everything that happens on a field but the one thing they can control is their work ethic,” she said. “I will consider my coaching a success if they learn something each day and are excited about coming back the next day. I want them to be creative and express themselves out there and clearly have fun while they’re doing it.”

MacMillan said she won’t be one of the coaches standing on the sidelines each game day micromanaging and directing a team of puppets with constant instructions. “At the end of the week I want to be able at game time to go out and just watch,” she said. “Games are when it’s time for them to be free and make decisions on their own and trust themselves.”

MacMillan recognizes the Del Mar Sharks program has slipped from when it was one of San Diego County’s powerhouse club programs, regularly churning out Presidio League and state championships.

While she despises the winning-at-all-costs mentality and the pressure it puts on players and coaches, she believes that by sticking to the basics of teaching the fundamentals and instilling a sense of fun, success will follow naturally.

“If we develop skills the wins will come,” she said. “Passing and receiving the ball, good one-on-one defending, striking the ball with the laces and running into space to open up for a teammate are the kinds of things we will focus on.

“I wouldn’t have come here if I wasn’t allowed to do it my way. My vision for this club is for the kids from the younger teams to stay here and have loyalty to the club rather than club-hopping. We have everything we need here under the Sharks’ umbrella to do that.”

MacMillan’s impressed by the talent she sees in the club. She finds them far advanced from where she was at the same ages. And every once in a while, during a practice or a game, she catches glimpses of a girl doing something that brings back memories of old teammates.

A defender who defends like Joy Fawcett.
A midfielder who passes like Julie Foudy.
And yes, a forward who sends out those wicked crosses or finishes like Shannon MacMillan.

Here is an impressive quote on MacMillan: “THE U.S. WOMEN'S NATIONAL SOCCER TEAM IS BUT ONE MORE EXAMPLE OF HOW, WHEN IT COMES TO ATHLETICS, WOMEN ARE COMING OFF THE BENCH, AS IT WERE, AND TAKING THEIR RIGHTFUL PLACE ON THE FIELDS, IN THE COURTS, IN THE SCHOOL YARDS AND IN OUR STADIUMS. THEY PROVE ONCE AGAIN THAT WOMEN ARE AS SURE- FOOTED IN CLEATS AS THEY ARE IN HEELS OR WHATEVER SHOES THEY DECIDE TO WEAR.” Senator Olympia Snowe of Maine addressing the U.S. Senate on the Women’s 1999 World Cup Championship victory against China.

THE SHANNON MACMILLAN FILE

SN: What was your biggest soccer thrill:

MacMillan: Being part of that great U.S. women’s team that was such a pioneer in letting girls know that it’s okay to be strong, athletic and confident.

SN: Who was your favorite teammate?
MacMillan: Joy Fawcett. My roommate. Never got caught up in the hype.

SN: Who’s going to win the World Cup?
MacMillan: Brazil over England.

If I hadn’t played soccer I’d have played: MacMillan: Basketball.

What I used to eat but can’t anymore: MacMillan: Desserts. Brownies, ice cream.

SN: What do you watch on television?
MacMillan: Reality shows. Survivor, The Amazing Race.

SN: What as your biggest soccer downer?
MacMillan: Blowing out my knee in 2003 when I was playing my best soccer.

SN: What don’t you watch on television?

MacMillan: Horror shows.

SN: Who is the future MACMILLAN soccer star?

MacMillan: My nearly one-year-old son, Brayden. We gave him some small balls to kick around and he’s been picking things up for at least a few months now. He loves it. For the amount of times I’ve dragged him out onto the fields he’s either going to love it or hate it when he grows up.

SN: We all look forward to seeing Brayden on the field.

If you have a question for Shannon MacMillan, please contact Del Mar Sharks or email Info@SoccerNation.com