I recently spent some time chatting with Carla Overbeck, former captain of the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team. If you’ve found your way to this site, I probably don’t have to tell you that Carla has won two World Cups and an Olympic Gold Medal and that she captained the team from 1991 until she retired after the 2000 Olympics. I’m sure you also know that she was a founding member of the WUSA and captained the Carolina Courage.
I was a huge fan of Carla’s long before I had the opportunity to interview her. I’ve always admired her gritty play in the back, her leadership on and off the pitch, and her remarkable determination to stay fit and comeback after the birth of her first child.
I mean how could you watch the 99 World Cup and not be a Carla Overbeck fan? One of my favorite World Cup moments is Carla casually strolling up to take that first penalty kick in the final, chipping the ball up into her hands, and spinning it around a few times before she puts it down and takes the shot. Of course she nailed it and the 90,000 plus fans at the Rose Bowl exploded with her as did the gazillion of us who were watching at home.
I’ve always been a fan of Carla Overbeck the player and I was equally impressed with Carla Overbeck the person. She was extremely accommodating, candid and funny. She struck me as someone who knows what’s important and has managed to achieve great balance in her life.
Among other things, we talked about her new book “The Soccer Mom’s Cookbook” which is scheduled to be released soon, what her life looks like now as well as what she thinks about Brandi’s “retirement”.
Tell me about your book, “The Soccer Mom’s Cookbook” and when it will be released.
The release date has been postponed. I think they have had to get permission to use some of the photographs. It should be out by the end of October.
I was approached by Silverback about doing the book. You know, I’m out at clinics and doing appearances and am very aware of the problem of childhood obesity and parents on the go not having time to prepare healthy meals. Kids are spending more time indoors in front of screens – watching tv, playing video games and are not playing outside. I want to do everything I can to help, so I was excited when they approached me.
We worked with a registered dietician who researched recipes that are low in fat and high in fiber and are pretty easy to prepare. I’m excited to be a part of it.
Is there a head coaching job in your future?
My husband is in the restaurant business here and we plan to stay in this area for good. I enjoy my job as an assistant at Duke. I was the full-time assistant from 92 to 98 but doing that and trying to play for the National Team was too much once I had kids. I went part time to really be a mom. I want to be a very hands-on parent and coaching at Duke allows me to do that and stay in soccer.
What is a typical day like for you?
I get up in the morning and get my son ready for school. I spend the day at home with my 2 and 1/2 year old. After school we run Jackson around to soccer and lacrosse. I coach at Duke 2 afternoons a week. I come home and worry about food and homework. I feel it’s important as a parent to be around and be there for my kids.
Do you coach Jackson’s team?
No. I’ve seen so many parents acting crazy on the sidelines. I just sit in my chair and try and cheer him on.
How closely do you follow the National Team?
I watch games on tv. If they play in this area I will go to the games. They haven’t been out here for a while. I flew out and went to Julie, Joy and Mia’s last game in California. That’s the last game I’ve seen in person. I was glad I got to be there.
What young player on the National Team has caught your attention?
Shannon Boxx has done a great job. She was identified through the WUSA and has really filled Michelle Aker’s role. Abby Wambach does a great job. You know, they’re exciting to watch, tough. They’re always working hard. They go after it. I like to watch someone who works hard.
What are your impressions of Greg Ryan?
I don’t really know. I’m not in training camp with them, but the feedback I’ve gotten has been mostly positive. I think the team likes him. I mean they haven’t really been challenged yet so it’s hard to tell about his coaching. We’ll have a better idea when they play some of the better teams like Germany and Brazil.
Any comment on Brandi’s “retirement”?
I think it was very poorly handled. Anytime you have a veteran with that much experience… Talk about putting soccer on the map! They brought her in for the last 3 games in the Olympics and she definitely had an impact. They were struggling in the back until they brought her in. When she comes on the field a calm just comes over the team. She can play-make from the back. She can get forward. It was disgraceful, really. You don’t treat someone like that that has done so much for the game, so much for soccer. I think he should have brought her in and given her a chance.
Brandi stands up for what’s right and what she believes in. She is a soccer junkie. She breathes it. She watches it. She’s always breaking down what went wrong after a game. I’d be ready to turn it off and think about something else after playing all day and she still wants to talk about it or watch a game.
She just loves the game. She is still training, hoping he might change his mind.
Does the retirement of Dr. Bob help or hurt the women’s position with USSF?
Dr. Bob retired? (Explained that he was not running for re-election and Sunil Gulati was expected to run unopposed.) I didn’t know that. You can tell I’ve been living in a box. When we were negotiating residency contracts Gulati was brought in to deal with that. I like him. I think it will be good for the women. He tells you like it is. I think he will be an advocate.
What is the latest on the WUSA revival??
I haven’t heard anything lately. I was involved in the initial summit, where we were looking at models to bring it back and have it stay. I have heard that the talks are going well. Hopefully things will be ready for 2007.
Here at Carolina it was a wonderful experience. With Time Warner & SAS, we had great local sponsors.
You know, once you graduate from college if you’re not National Team material, there’s nowhere for you to play unless you go overseas. Look at Shannon Boxx. She wasn’t on the radar until the WUSA.
You had 160 positive roles models out there. Who wouldn’t want that back? The kids that came out to the games really had a great experience. I know the National Team and the Carolina Courage enjoyed reaching out to those young kids. If we can touch a child’s life in a positive way, that’s what it’s all about. It’s not fake. They really enjoy the fans.
What was your best moment on the field?
It has to be the ‘96 Olympics or the ‘99 World Cup. The crowds. To accomplish those goals with people that you really care about was incredible. We had so much fun together and to accomplish it on US Soil was a great experience.
What was your worst moment on the field?
It’s got to be the loss in the ‘95 World Cup in Sweden. I mean something good came out of it, but having to watch them make that train in front of us after we lost. It still makes my stomach hurt thinking about it.
Do you still train?
I exercise. Sometimes I serve some balls with the Duke girls but I don’t train with them. It’s nice to be my own boss and do something because I want to and not have to worry when I get up in the morning how I’m going to fit my training in. When I was doing it, you wake up in the morning and you feel uptight until it’s done. You worry if you don’t do it your letting yourself down, letting the team down. Now if I want to run, I run.
How hard was it to turn that off?
(Laughs). Not hard at all! I don’t really miss playing. People don’t understand that but when you do it for so long, 13 years and it’s everything. Now, when I wake up all I need to do is read my child a few books and spend some time with her and it’s a great day. You know how it is, things you thought were so important before aren’t really that important once you become a parent.
I miss the people but I talk with them on the phone once a week. Brandi, Julie and I spent some time together in Hawaii last spring. We still see each other.
Do people still recognize you when you are out and about?
They do when I’m at soccer events and sometimes when I’m just out. Not too often any more. I’m getting too old for that.
Kickingitaround 