CARSON, Calif. -- Annie Alvarado and Rachel Schmid’s undertaking goes a bit deeper than just aiding the ever-expanding Girls’ LA Galaxy Academy; they’re hoping to be role models to the 80 members of the academy.
Alvarado, a former national champion with UCLA, joins the Academy as the team’s new assistant coach, while Schmid will serve as strength and conditioning coach following an established career across the women’s soccer sphere. The two women join Academy Director Kevin Hartman and Technical Consultant Matt Tutton on the academy staff.
For both, joining the Girls’ LA Galaxy Academy is a major opportunity to help grow the women’s game in Southern California.
“Even though I've just finished up college at UCLA, playing soccer there, my whole career has been on the playing side and taking these next steps into post-college life,” Alvarado told LA Galaxy Insider. “I have explored options, and I thought what a great opportunity to get involved in an organization like LA Galaxy and help younger girls reach the goals that I aspired to reach at their age, and thought it was a great opportunity to make a difference and help where I can.”
Schmid added, “I have been working to find a role like this specific to sports performance for a soccer organization. It's not as easy as it may sound to find that position and I have had opportunities in smaller organizations, but then when LA Galaxy came in I knew there would be so many resources here available to me to learn and to grow as a professional, and help the organization get better as well as the girls within in it. The actual role is exactly what I want to be doing.”
Schmid will serve as the head of strength and conditioning for all four age groups of the Girls’ Academy while also remaining on the coaching staff at UC Irvine. A certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) with a USSF National “C” Coaching License, Schmid is an alum of Irvine’s women soccer program.
Alvarado arrives at StubHub Center following a successful four-year collegiate career at UCLA. A member of the Bruins’ first-ever women’s soccer national championship team, she will now assist in both coaching and mentorship for the members of the academy.
As the project continues to expand, Alvarado is excited about the work that lays ahead.
“When I first came in, it was obvious that the girls were excited there was going to be a female presence on the field, and then when Rachel came it was, even more, excitement, and they have expressed how appreciative they are of everything the organization has to offer to offer them," Alvarado said. "When I played club, we weren't offered any of the things that these girls are getting, and they recognize it and appreciate it. I think it's been great.”
And Schmid agrees.
“For me, they have been really receptive to everything I'm introducing, even if it's pretty new. For some fitness stuff, most people aren't super pumped to do it. Their understanding why they're doing it and appreciating that there's someone taking pride in how they're doing it and why they're doing it and doing it well,” Schmid said. “So, every time we give them something new to do, they're very receptive, and they want to do more to keep getting better. It's been great working with the group. There's a lot to do, both of us have worked with high-level organizations that have worked together for a long, long time. It takes time to get there.”
