PlayHer Way Kicks Off With More Than 100 Girls at Preston

On a sunny Sunday afternoon at Preston Park, 116 girls came together for something simple: an afternoon of soccer, connection and fun.

It was the first-ever PlayHer Way afternoon, and the first step in Eastside FC’s growing effort to create more opportunities for girls to play, connect, grow and see women and older girls leading the way.

Our youngest players kicked off the afternoon during the first session, with girls as young as four taking the field. An even larger group followed in the second session, filling Preston with energy, competition and plenty of laughter.

There were games, 1v1 matchups, small-sided soccer and lots of opportunities to simply play. But some of the best moments happened between the soccer, girls meeting new friends, older players encouraging younger ones, and plenty of smiles, laughs and hugs throughout the afternoon.

That was exactly what PlayHer Way was intended to be.

Not a tryout. Not a clinic. Not about which club you play for or how experienced you are.

Just girls playing soccer together.

“Our first PlayHer Way session set the tone for everything we hope the program will become,” said Coach Debbie Nelson. “Seeing so many girls playing soccer in a fun, relaxed environment alongside their friends, and hearing the laughter and seeing the smiles, was a wonderful reminder of why this matters. Girls thrive when they feel they belong, and girls belong in sport. We are so excited to build on this first session and continue welcoming girls to PlayHer Way in the future.”

A special thank you goes to coaches Erin Vaughan and Debbie Nelson, who coordinated and led the afternoon, and to the group of more than a dozen older girls who volunteered as our PlayHer Way “big sisters.” Their enthusiasm, encouragement and willingness to jump into the activities helped create the kind of environment we hope younger girls will remember.

We also want to thank coaches Alexis Stevens, Elliot Fauske and Sean Rash, who volunteered their time and helped make the afternoon a success.

Most importantly, thank you to every girl who came out to play. And to the families who brought them.

“Our first PlayHer Way session was everything we hoped for and more,” said Coach Erin Vaughan. “Seeing so many girls show up excited to play and leave smiling was a reminder that helping girls access and enjoy the game they love is the most important part of what we do. Excited for the next one.”

PlayHer Way is just getting started. Sunday showed what can happen when girls of different ages, backgrounds and soccer experiences are given a welcoming place to come together around the game.

More afternoons are coming.

And if the first one was any indication, there are going to be a lot more laughs, friendships and soccer ahead.

About PlayHer Way

PlayHer Way is an Eastside FC initiative created to expand opportunities for girls and women in soccer. Built around the belief that girls should have more opportunities to play, connect, grow and lead, the initiative focuses on creating positive soccer experiences for girls, developing and supporting female coaches, connecting younger players with older female role models, and building events and partnerships that strengthen the girls’ game.