We are excited to announce that former SRUSA client and former England Youth International, Mollie Rouse, will be joining the team as a Women's Soccer Ambassador.
Mollie had a great career as a student athlete playing for two years at the University of Louisville before transferring to the University of Central Florida to finish off her degree. Alongside playing and studying in America, Mollie played an integral role in the England U18's World Cup run where they finished third after defeating hosts France on penalties. She has over 60 caps for England at Youth International Level.
We will be looking to get Mollie involved in events where she can pass on her invaluable experiences to future student athletes along with advising players who might be interested in this route.
Since returning to England, Mollie has recently signed for Lewes FC in the FA Women's Championship where she recently made her debut in the 1-0 win against Coventry United.
We recently caught up with Mollie where she talks about her student athlete experience and what she is looking forward to with the role at SRUSA.
Q) How was your experience in the U.S. and what advice would you give to others who are thinking about this route?
A) My experience in the US is hard to put into words, but it moulded me into a better person and player on and off the pitch. You get treated like a professional, playing high level football, gaining a degree and experiencing a new culture all at the same time. I highly recommend to anyone thinking about it as it was the best decision I have ever made.
Q) What advice would you give potential student athletes from your experience as a student athlete?
A) The advice I would give to players looking down this route is firstly, know what you look for in a team and university and do your research! Such as what qualities do you look for in a coach, your teammates, the culture, the tactics etc. As well as looking into similar aspects for the education side. Knowing this beforehand will help you find the right fit for you and make the process of settling in much easier. Secondly when you are there enjoy it! Looking back I can’t believe how quick time flies, soak in all the experiences and emerge yourself into all the amazing things that university in America has to offer!
Q) What excites you most about becoming an SRUSA ambassador?
A) What excites me the most is the fact that I will be helping people with one of the biggest steps of their educational and football career. I can’t wait to see people diving into an experience where they will make memories that will last a life time and achieve big things over seas!
Q) How was the life experience as a student athlete in America?
A) As a student athlete you become a part of a large family that is your university. You get to meet people who will impact your life greatly and learn a new culture in the process. Through football you will get to travel to different parts of the country and see many new things! You gain a sense of independence that will set you up for life, while knowing there are also people around you that can help you when needed!
Q) How did America prepare you for life as a professional in England?
A) I couldn’t believe how similar being a student athlete was to being a professional. The facilities in the states are incredible and can often be better than what we sometimes see at the professional level! However not just the facilities, the training itself with the support network of the staff involved resembles what you would experience as a professional. Therefore American universities made ready for my step to becoming a professional.
If you are interested in finding out more information about becoming a student athlete in America, you can head over to our events page at www.sportsrecruitingusa.com/events or email jon@sportsrecruitingusa.com for an information pack.
