Joanna Fennema - 'I was mad at soccer – but I love it too much'

As a player, Joanna Boyles Fennema performed at the highest level.

She spent her four college years with the North Carolina Tar Heels, represented the U17 US national team and played for the Orlando Pride in the NWSL.

Alongside success, Fennema’s playing days came with a lot of challenges – she was drafted by the Boston Breakers just before the team folded, suffered two ACL injuries while at college, discovered she has severely degenerative discs in her back.

This back injury, and subsequent hip labrum tears, led Fennema to retire at 24.

A chance encounter led her back into the game, and she is now thriving as an assistant coach at Columbus State University (CSU).

SCW caught up with Jo to talk about the transition from player to coach, and how coaches can best support players going through injuries...

Hey coaches — quick heads-up. If your team’s moving up a format this season — maybe to 7v7, 9v9, or even 11v11 — it’s not just ‘more players. and bigger pitches’ The game changes. That’s why we’re running the Prepare Your Players for the Move series. On August 20 we’ve got the 7v7 Transition Masterclass, and on August 27 we’ll cover 9v9 and 11v11. You’ll get the formations, tactics and strategies you need to give your team the edge helping you win more games and develop better players. Just h