Road to 2020: Freedom Hold Camp in Denver

The year 2020 sounds like something out of sci-fi movie.  Like a time where we’ll have interstellar space travel or something of that ilk.

But in fact, it is only two years away.  And before you know it, 2020 will be here, and so too will the seventh iteration of the AFL International Cup.

Between now and then, the USA Freedom women’s national team has a lot of work to do to improve upon their 4th place finish last year, and to make it to the Grand Final for the first time in the program’s history.

The first major step in that march comes this weekend, when more than 45 women from across the country converge upon Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in suburban Denver for the first training camp of the new cycle.

Interim lead coaches Christina Licata and Martin Coventry will be running the weekend, evaluating talent and also send attendees back to their home clubs with tangible resources to develop themselves, and their teammates, as footballers.

They’ll also be looking at potential call-ups for the 2019 Freedom and Liberty development teams, which will play yet-to-be confirmed test matches.

“Marto and I are excited to kick off the National program with a camp focused on development,” Licata told USAFL.com.  “As local coaches, we both have seen the need for growing resources and fundamentals at a grassroots level to create a strong National program. This is our first look at some of the players who are interested in the program as well as another look at those that we know from competition over the years.

”We're excited to meet and reconnect with everyone over the weekend. Our goal is for players to grow in their knowledge over the weekend and give specific feedback to those who attend with the aim to make them better footballers and prepare them for the National team selection process in 2019.”

The focus of the weekend will be on developing baseline and fitness skills.  Friday’s development clinic will focus on important skills, including picking up, contested marking, tackling, and shepherding.

Saturday will feature strategy and contested sessions, as well as match play.  Getaway day on Sunday will center on more skills and a recovery session.

In addition to Licata and Coventry, veteran coaches Lissa Regets, Kat Hogg, and Lisa Arredondo will be on hand to help coordinate and evaluate players.  USA Revolution men’s head coach Tom Ellis, and USAFL Umpires Association Level 2 Field Umpire Laurie Rupe will also lend their expertise to the camp, and pre-camp support has been augmented by Portland AFC veterans Lucy Parrington and Brandon Snider.

The full schedule of events from Colorado is here.

For more information about the USA Freedom, USA Liberty, and women’s football across the country, email womens@usafl.com.