Capital Football is thrilled to announce the appointment of head coaches for its Women’s National League and Girls’ National Youth League squads in 2022. Maika Ruyter-Hooley is the new head coach for the Women’s National League side, whilst Katie Barrott will be head coach for the inaugural U18’s Girls’ National Youth League squad.

Ruyter-Hooley is a familiar name in the Capital Football coaching fraternity through her role as head coach for W League team, Wellington United for the previous couple of seasons. Coming off the back of a successful season which included lifting the Kate Sheppard Cup, AFC B Licence qualified Ruyter-Hooley, arrives at the role with tremendous credentials. As well as leading Wellington United, Ruyter-Hooley has also been assisting Petone FC’s Men’s Central League squad in 2022 and has been the assistant coach with Capital Football’s Women’s National League squad the previous two seasons.

Katie Barrott is also well known to the women’s and girl’s game throughout the region. Having represented Capital Football with distinction as a player and captain across several seasons, Barrott has seamlessly moved into coaching achieving the OFC/NZF B Licence qualification earlier this year. Actively coaching through Capital Football’s girls’ youth programmes, Barrott was the outstanding candidate to take on the head coach role for the newly created U18’s Girls squad.

Federation Development Manager, Steeve Sharpe is delighted with the two appointments “the calibre of the two successful candidates for the positions is exciting for women and girls throughout the region. I have no doubt having Maika and Katie lead the coaching will be enticing for prospective players. What came through in both interviews was their desire and care to ensure the best possible environments for all players, and their respective qualifications speak for themselves. We are looking forward to exciting women’s campaigns in 2022.”

Capital Football will appoint the remainder of the support personnel to Maika and Katie soon. With both the Women’s National League and Girls’ National Youth League beginning on the weekend of 17^th September 2022, trials will be held for both squads in August. Information will be sent directly to clubs shortly regarding how players can be nominated. This is the first season of the newly created Girls’ National Youth League and Capital Football is thoroughly looking forward to running an U18’s team alongside its senior counterparts.

Article added: Tuesday 12 July 2022