U.S. Soccer and Girls Academy Host First All-Female Talent Scout Course

U.S. Soccer Talent Identification, in partnership with the Girls Academy, hosted the first all-female Talent Scout Course from March–May 2026. The initiative represents an important step forward in expanding opportunities for women in talent identification and strengthening the pathway that supports the women’s game.

Held in Bradenton, Florida, the course brought together 12 participants representing 12 clubs from across 10 states. The group included technical leaders, coaches and scouts from across the girls’ game who took part in a multi-session learning experience aligned to U.S. Soccer’s Talent Identification framework and processes.

The course focused on developing the people responsible for identifying talent, complementing the Girls Academy Talent ID program centered on player identification. Grounded in shared responsibility, alignment, and innovation, the collaboration between U.S. Soccer and the Girls Academy is expanding access and creating new opportunities for emerging female talent scouts, coaches, and leaders.

“The delivery of the first all-female Talent Scout Course, truly centered through HerLens and on behalf of our members, with the Girls Academy leading the way, represents a significant and meaningful milestone,” said Marieke Laurens, U.S. Soccer’s Talent Identification Education Lead.

The experience created space for participants to learn and grow through classroom instruction, collaborative discussion, and live match observation. Working alongside peers in similar roles, participants applied the Talent ID framework and processes in real time, grounded in the Top Talent Scout Profile, which centers on key competencies focused on knowledge, skill refinement, and ongoing development of the attributes needed to succeed in the role, deepening their understanding of talent identification in the women’s game.

The course also emphasized leadership development and the importance of representation in scouting and technical roles, helping strengthen a more connected and capable talent identification network.

“Launching an all-female Talent Scout Course alongside U.S. Soccer represents an important step forward in continuing to elevate women within the technical and identification spaces of the game. Creating intentional opportunities for education, mentorship, and collaboration not only strengthens the talent identification network, but also ensures more female leaders are helping shape the future of the women’s game at every level. We are proud to collaborate with U.S. Soccer on an initiative that reflects our shared commitment to developing both players and the women leading the game forward,” said Patricia Hughes, Commissioner of the Girls Academy.

For many participants, the all-female environment created a meaningful opportunity to connect, learn from one another, and continue building relationships that extend beyond the course. The shared experience reinforced a sense of belonging and supported continued growth within talent identification.

“What stuck with me most was the people. Being in a room full of women, including the Talent ID Educators, all working toward the same thing, finding the next generation of players, made it easy to be open, ask questions, and actually learn from each other. I walked away with new perspectives on scouting and some really genuine connections. That combination is rare, and it's exactly what the women's game needs right now,” said Alex Keaney, Technical Director at the Downtown United Soccer Club.

As part of U.S. Soccer’s commitment to the U.S. Way, initiatives like this strengthen talent identification through education, collaboration, and the sharing of best practices.

By investing in women working across scouting and technical roles, U.S. Soccer and the Girls Academy are helping build a stronger foundation for the next generation, guided by the belief that every talent deserves to the opportunity to be scouted. The impact extends beyond this course, creating momentum for continued growth and opportunity across the women’s game.