oh and i was also wondering, well im starting varsity soccer this year, and im sort of nervous, especially playing with people who are twice as big as me and up to 4 years older than me, but i was just wondering what you do before a game to calm your nerves, and just go out there and do a great job like you always do, and how you adjusted from going to high school, or club soccer to the National level?

Hey Emily It is normal to get nervous before games. I usually listen to music to put me in my routine to get ready to play. I also just focus on what I need to do in the game and know that as long as I work my butt off, I will be ok. It is different jumping to different levels and you just take it as it comes. The first time around is a bit more nerve-racking but the more time you spend at that level you become more comfortable and the nerves relax a bit. You just have to keep working hard. Good Luck, kristine

hi,my name is kelly,im 21!and i love your website!i always come and check it out every single day as well!you have been my favorite soccer player since i was 10 years old!and ive been trying to get back to playing soccer again ever since i broke my ankle last year in janurary!my question is do you have any suggestions on not being nervous after trying out for a team?

Hey Kelly Don’t worry we all get nervous. I was always nervous trying out for new teams, but you just have to focus on the soccer and just do your best. Don’t try to be like anyone else just be yourself and work hard. Nerves are natural and you just don’t want them to get the best of you! Sometimes listening to music helped me and don’t think so much. Usually our nerves are enhanced b/c we are thinking too much. We are thinking about what we have to do or that we are so worried about making mistakes. Think about the things that you are good at and what you love about the game. Good Luck and kick some butt, kristine

Hi Kristine, I am a big fan of yours. Can you please answer these questions for me to earn a girl scout badge? What do you like about your job? What training do you have? I was looking at your wed site and I found that your birthday is on July 22. Mine is also on July 22! My favorite sport is soccer. I play on 3 teams. From Erin

HI Erin So we share the same birthday huh? That is great! As for your questions, I like playing soccer because I am outside a lot , I am surrounded by friends and love the competitiveness of the sport. I do a lot of training. We do soccer training, fitness training and weight training as well. We also do massage therapy to help get our legs feeling better after all that training. I hope this helps with your badge. Take care, Kristine

Hi Kristine, My name is Kailtyn and I am 10 1/2 years old. I have been playing soccer for about 5 years and I love it. I chose you for my 5th grade Living History Museum Project.You are such an awesome soccer player and have done so many great things. I have really liked reading about you and I have a few questions for you: What was the greatest influence in your life?, what was one problem you had in your life and how did you solve it? can you tell me about one experience you had as a child? Thank you so much for taking the time to read this. I'm a big fan. Your fan, Kaitlyn

Hey Kaitlin, I’m honored that you chose your project on me. Let me see how I can help with my answers. The greatest influence in my life so far had to have been my brother. He is 4 years older and he was an athlete and I always wanted to do whatever he did. I also had great people influence me along the way and some of those were coaches, and teammates. I’m not sure that I had just one problem or one situation that I overcame. I didn’t have a major thing to overcome but I think being young and shy, was something that I had to overcome. Also with all the travel that I did I really missed home, family and friends, so getting over being gone as well. As a child one of my favorite things about soccer was the oranges at half time. I loved them and I use to eat so many that it was hard to run in the second half. I also loved getting my uniform on whether it was my soccer or baseball. I hope these help you. Good luck, Kristine

My 6 year old daughter Ireland wants to play soccer and tells me everyday to sign her up. She kicks any ball she can find around the house, and I have had a few broken windows her response is if I want to be good it's ganna happen. She already has her nick name picked out for her pro years it's Imac short for Ireland Mackenzie. My thing is how to start her how much to encourage and how much to push. How did your mom do with you. Any help you can give would be great. And cograds on your little one. Thanks, Marci

Marci I am glad your daughter is interested In playing soccer. At such a young age, I would let the kids initiate their involvement. How much they want to play. I remember my parents would let me try things but the only thing I couldn’t do is quit in the middle, I had to finish it out then after that I would decide if I wanted to do it again. I would just encourage her right now and let her try things, plus once kids do that they meet people and it is all fun. I hope that helps. Kristine

Hi Kristine! My name is Arleigha , I am in eighth grade, and I am doing a research project on you and your soccer career. I was wondering if you could answer the following questions: 1. What was your biggest moment? 2. Were there any mistakes you made in your career? 3. What advice would you give to teenage athletes today? Thanks a lot! ~Arleigha

hey Arleigha, Here are the answers to your questions for your project. Good Luck. Kristine 1. I have a lot of great moments but I think winning the World Cup in 1999 was pretty amazing. We not only won but we changed society and had over 40 million people watch us on t.v. 2. I made mistakes everyday in my career. You never have a perfect game or practice. Overall I wouldn’t change anything about my career, I think even in the time of mistakes you learn, so you are a better person for it. 3. What I like to tell most teenage athletes these days is you have to work hard. Never become complacent. Once you reach a goal, continue to push yourself and set new goals. Nothing should come easy to you and be grateful for what you have and have accomplished and want more. Always make sure you have fun with what you are doing. If it isn’t fun, your attitude won’t be great.

dear kristine, my name is mandi, i am 15 i live in Bristol, CT and i love to play soccer. i wanted to know how old were you when u began playing soccer, and what can i do to better my game. Im going to be playing goalie soon for my team in the spring and i also play foward. I am the oldest on my team and i try to set an example for the younger girls on my team. Im going to play for my high school team next fall as a junior,but it wil be my first time, and in the city i live in sports are very competitive and are a really big deal, and im a little scared. were you scared when you first plays on your high school team, and what can i do to calm my nerves. thank you for your time, mandi

Hey Mandi I was 6 years old when I started playing soccer. In order for you to get better you have to work hard. Anytime you are in a practice environment or camp, get the most out of it. Push yourself to be better, some people think they are working hard but really they have another level. Always make sure you have the basics down. Make sure you know how to pass correctly, kick the ball correctly, and make sure you use different surfaces of the feet. The basics are so important because I believe with out them you can’t do the more difficult stuff. It is always nerve racking to go to new teams or different levels. I still get nervous coming into a team if I have been a way for a bit. After a couple days your feeling more comfortable and the nerves have calmed down. Just remember your strengths when you go into a new situation and focus on them and feel confident. Remember we are all human and make mistakes and just learn from them. Good luck, kristine

My name is Angel I'm sixteen years old and I've been playing soccer for nine years. Recently at practice, I got the bad end of a tackle, my ankle hasn't been the same. Now every time I go into a girl who has the ball, its like I'm scared. I'm always afraid of getting hurt that bad again, it affects my game. I know people say soccer is a big mental sport. How can I make the fear go away? Or does it always stay with you and you just have to learn to play with it? You're an amazing player and an awesome role model. Its really kool what you and everyone else did for women's soccer in America, opened a lot of doors. Congratulations and good luck with the baby!

Hey angel You have to get back in there. You probably have heard this before but you will probably get hurt being tentative. It is a mental thing and sometimes it does take some time. Get your ankle taped up and get back in there. You can do it. Just go after it and don’t think. It will be ok and you will be ok. kristine

Hi Kristine             My name is Kristina. You are my favorite soccer player and my idle. I look up to and think maybe some day I will be as good as u. What college did u go to were you a tar heal. How hard was it to get on the women’s soccer team? I saw this thing on HBO it had you, Mia Hamm, and Julie Foudy. I got a poster for Christmas of 2008 and it is signed by you, Mia Hamm, Brandi Chastain, Joy Fawcett, Julie Foudy. One day I want to be on the women’s national team. Kristina  

Hey Kristina I did go to the university of north Carolina. It is very difficult to get on the usa team, but not out of the question. I believe if you work hard enough you will always be in a better spot. There aren’t many people that make the u.S.a team but set your goals and if that is one of them, then go after it. I hope you make it one day kristine