{"id":12758,"date":"2024-04-18T10:26:55","date_gmt":"2024-04-18T10:26:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/connected\/?p=12758"},"modified":"2025-03-05T10:59:37","modified_gmt":"2025-03-05T10:59:37","slug":"from-pitch-to-professional","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/connected\/2024\/04\/18\/from-pitch-to-professional\/","title":{"rendered":"From Pitch To Professional"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

University of Reading graduate, Faid Salmoon, shares with CONNECTED how her childhood passion became her profession when she was offered the position of soccer coach for Los Angeles Football Club.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"Faid joined the University of Reading in 2019 when she embarked on a MPharm in Pharmacy<\/a>, a decision that was inspired by a deep-rooted desire to help others. Choosing Reading however,\u00a0 was influenced by the reputation of the Reading School of Pharmacy.<\/p>\n

Reflecting on her academic pursuits, she said: \u201cI am fascinated by healthcare and am passionate about making a positive impact on people\u2019s lives, so pursuing a master\u2019s in pharmacy felt like a natural choice. I wanted to delve deeper into the science behind medications and treatments, with the ultimate goal of contributing to the wellbeing of people.

\u201cReading\u2019s reputation for excelling in pharmacy education, along with its supportive academic environment and vibrant campus community, attracted me to study here. I was particularly drawn to the opportunities for research and practical experience that the University offered.\u201d<\/p>\n

Faid\u2019s journey at Reading wasn\u2019t solely confined to the classroom however and joining Reading University Women\u2019s Football Club (RUWFC) during her first year allowed her to continue her passion for sport while she studied. She reminisced:<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cFootball has been an integral part of my life since childhood and I\u2019ve been actively playing since the age of five. It\u2019s a passion that has shaped my life and continues to drive my aspirations in the world of sports.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Faid shared with CONNECTED the benefits of playing a sport while studying and her journey from student athlete to professional coach.<\/p>\n

Sense of belonging<\/strong><\/h4>\n

For Faid, sport was a core part of her university experience, as she became coach for RUWFC during\u00a0her third year. She explained: \u201cI thoroughly enjoyed coaching the team and being able to contribute towards its development. As a coach you are a role model both on and off the field \u2013 you aim to teach skills like tactics, cognition, managing emotions, decision-making and teamwork.<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cSome of my fondest memories are of the camaraderie and sense of unity \u2013 celebrating victories together and overcoming challenges as a collective force.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\"The“The Union nights with the society after matches and Varsity games hold a special place in my heart,\u00a0as do the friendships forged with peers from a range of backgrounds \u2013 who I wouldn\u2019t have known if it hadn\u2019t been for Reading and for football.<\/p>\n

“Being part of this team gave me a real sense of belonging.\u201d<\/p>\n

Football also provided a skillset that could be applied off the pitch. Faid explained: \u201cJoining a sports team during my studies really enhanced my overall wellbeing because of the physical activity and social interaction, but it also gave me skills that were applicable to both my studies and life in general. It really improved my time management skills and being part of a team fosters leadership, communication and teamwork abilities that are all applicable to many aspects of life.\u201d<\/p>\n

A new chapter<\/strong><\/h4>\n

\"FaidSince graduating, Faid has embarked on a new chapter and is making a lasting impact on the future generation of athletes in her role as Coach for Los Angeles Football Club<\/a> (LA FC). The opportunity came as a surprise for Faid, who explained: \u201cI went to LA FC to watch my cousin who is a recreational referee and works on Saturdays for them. I was so invested in it that I couldn\u2019t help but get involved. They asked me about my background \u2013 and from there, I was offered the opportunity to join them as a full-time coach.\u201d<\/p>\n

Faid now works with children who – like her – have discovered a passion for the sport at a young age.<\/p>\n

She explained: \u201cI work with children ranging from 2 years old to top ECNL [Elite Clubs National League] youth teams and even the children of some celebrities – focusing on their development, growth and success.<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cTo go from coaching the University team to coaching a Major League Soccer team in America \u2013 which is the equivalent of the Premier League in the UK \u2013 is a really exhilarating and humbling experience.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

For Faid the most rewarding part of her role is helping to build confidence in others. She explained: “The real standout moments are seeing the growth of some of the young athletes. It’s amazing to see someone who would once arrive shy or crying, now running towards the pitch to start, hugging everyone and scoring hat-tricks.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“I also work with children with disabilities. Although that has been challenging at times, it has also been incredibly rewarding.”\u00a0<\/p>\n

Looking forward<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Although coaching is a dream come true for Faid, this isn\u2019t the end of her pharmaceutical journey \u2013 and she believes you can have the best of both worlds. She explained: \u201cFootball has always been the most consistent thing in my life, but even as a child I dreamt of working as a pharmacist during the week and playing football in the evenings and at the weekends. My dream hasn\u2019t changed really, but now it is balancing coaching with pharmacy.\u201d<\/p>\n

As someone who is living the dream, Faid would encourage anyone considering joining a sports society to \u201cgo for it\u201d. She said: \u201cI would tell anyone to seize the opportunity wholeheartedly.<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cNot only does joining a sports society offer you a chance to pursue interests outside of academic study or work, but it helps hugely with personal growth, creates lifelong friendships and gives you so many skills that extend beyond the realm of sports.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\u201cParticularly for women and women in football, embracing our passion can help break down barriers and contribute to a more inclusive and diverse sporting environment.\u201d<\/p>\n

And it’s not just the connections made during studying that Faid sees as beneficial. She explained:\u00a0“The University at all stages has offered me support – even after graduating I have been supported by the Alumni Team, peers and lecturers with achieving job opportunities and networking. Try to keep these connections – this network of a bright and innovative community can really help you later in life.”\u00a0<\/p>\n

Stay connected with your community \u2013 join our LinkedIn group<\/a>, follow us on Facebook<\/a>,\u00a0X<\/a>\u00a0(Twitter)<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Instagram @uoralumni<\/a>, and\u00a0update your details<\/a>\u00a0today to stay in touch and subscribe to receive CONNECTED.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

University of Reading graduate, Faid Salmoon, shares with CONNECTED how her childhood passion became her profession when she was offered the position of soccer coach for Los Angeles Football Club.\u00a0 Faid joined the University of Reading in 2019 when she embarked on a MPharm in Pharmacy, a decision that was inspired by a deep-rooted desire […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":225,"featured_media":12764,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false},"categories":[5],"tags":[165,54,34,89,88],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nFrom Pitch To Professional - Connected<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Reading graduate, Faid Salmoon, shares how her childhood passion led her to become a soccer coach for LA Football Club.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sites.reading.ac.uk\/connected\/2024\/04\/18\/from-pitch-to-professional\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"From Pitch To Professional - 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