My life in sport: Rebecca Sowden

Rebecca Sowden. Photo / Richard Robinson

Sport has opened many doors for former Football Fern Rebecca Sowden. It has provided her with an education, the opportunity to play professionally in Europe, helped launch a media career and now, inspired her personal business venture.

Sowden's experience playing soccer in the US College system after securing a scholarship at the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, encouraged her entrepreneurial spirit.

After being inundated with questions from other Kiwis about her time as a student-athlete in the US on her return to New Zealand, Sowden decided to compile an information resource on everything athletes and their parents need to know to conquer the complex sports and academic system of the US.

While Sowden's career has taken off over the past couple of years, she still has unfinished business on the football field. The 27-year-old has big dreams of representing New Zealand at the next World Cup in 2011.

What are your goals for football this season?

I'm having a break from the international side at the moment because there is a bit of a lull for the women's team right now. But I've shifted to the local club of Glenfield Rovers - I'm the oldest player there, leading some young kids so it's pretty funny. But I think the international environment is something we can't replicate here, so I'd love to have another stint playing overseas - perhaps in Europe again. I've got a French passport so I'd love to go over there and play. I also want to get back on track with the Football Ferns and be involved with the Olympic build-up and World Cup build-up.

What inspired you to go for a career in sport?
I guess my pure passion for soccer and the opportunities it can open up. The things I've experienced as an athlete are so different to anything my friends who don't play sport have experienced.

When you were 13 were there any other sports you fancied yourself as a future star in?
I was a competitive tennis player, but you get to an age, I guess 15 or so when you really have to decide to become the best you can in one sport.

Describe your job ...
My passion has always been media and marketing and this year I'm doing some new things, like casual sports journalism work, which is all new and scary. I'm also doing a number of my own ventures. I set up my own event - I'm running a beach soccer competition over the Christmas period. But the big thing at the moment is this information resource to help young Kiwis and their parents understand the process of going over to the States and obtaining sports scholarships.

What was your motivation behind developing this new resource?
Applying for athlete scholarships can be a complicated and confusing process and it can be hard for Kiwis to understand it all. So this is about ensuring that they do have the best four-year experience. I know a lot of people have gone over and ended up at universities that weren't a good fit for what they wanted to experience. My goal is to give them an understanding of how everything all works so that they get a good experience.

How many young Kiwi athletes would you estimate are on sports scholarships in the US?
It's getting quite up there. There were only a few of us doing it about five to 10 years ago, but I'm pretty sure it's heading up towards the hundreds. I know in soccer we've got about 10 to 15 kids over there at the moment and I'm getting heaps of requests from teenagers in all kinds of sports that are wanting to go over. I've been to a number of big schools around Auckland like Rangitoto, Auckland Grammar and Epsom Girls and I'm getting about three or four inquiries a day.

What is the difference in sporting culture between the US and New Zealand?
I guess it's just the sheer professionalism over there. You are treated like a professional athlete. The intensity of the training schedule where you're working out two to three times a day is something not many Kiwi athletes do. And the facilities the athletes have access to are just amazing. We had the most amazing weights room with trainers on hand, nutritionists, sports psychologists, our own football stadium - it was just unbelievable.

What is the best thing about your job?
Getting to combine my passions which are media, marketing and sport. It's great working for yourself and doing casual work. I work around training, which is vital for any elite athlete.

And the worst thing?
Because there is no structure or stability you need to be highly motivated. It is easy to sleep in that extra hour or hang out with friends.

What is the proudest achievement of your sporting career?
I think any time I've represented my country has been a proud moment for me. One of the best memories was playing against the USA [in 2002] in what was the swansong for some of their huge stars over there. The Mia Hamms, the Shannon MacMillans and the Brandi Chastains, who helped launch soccer as a women's sport. We got to play them in front of a sell-out crowd in Oregon and it was absolute madness. For the fans over there it was their final chance to see all these top American footballers play.

And your worst moment?
The worst moment is pretty easy to identify. I was the non-travelling reserve for the World Cup team last year, so missed out on the team by one place. Missing out after working towards that goal for 10 years and having revolved my whole life around it was pretty heartbreaking. It's the rollercoaster of emotions that comes with sport.

Who in the world do you most admire?
Tiger Woods. I've heard him say the day he stops learning and trying to become a better player is the day he'll give up.

Who was your childhood hero?
This may sound a bit corny, but I guess I've always looked up to my Mum [Anita]. She's always been someone I aspired to be like. I think I get my work ethic, drive and motivation from her.

What's the one career ambition you'd like to realise before you retire from sport?
I'd love to get back in there and make the next World Cup team. The World Cup for soccer is the absolute ultimate and I came so close, but I still think I've got more left to give now that I've matured and developed.

CV
2000 First selected in Football Ferns

2000-2004 Attended the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia - a top 30 Division One soccer school - on scholarship.

2007 Missed out on selection in New Zealand's World Cup team by one place

2007 Completed a three-month stint playing professionally in Denmark

2008 Was a member of FIFA marketing team that promoted the first U-17 Women's World Cup, held in New Zealand

For further details on Sowden's information resource, visit her website www.askus.co.nz