The Players: Kaylyn Kyle

Kaylyn Kyle’s first national youth camp was a real eye opener. She was only 14 years old at the time, leaving Saskatchewan for a Canadian U-16 camp just south of the border in Montana. She didn’t know anyone as she was the only player from her region.



“To go to Montana by myself and to be put into a group of 24 players with whom I have never played: it was really scary,” said Kyle. “I remember walking in and there were eight Ontario girls (hanging out) in my room. I was very shy growing up and it was (all) so scary. I don’t think I talked to anyone for my first few days.”



Kyle has come along way since that first camp. Now a regular with the full national team, she is on the cusp of participating in her first FIFA Women’s World Cup. The Canadian team leaves for Germany this month where it will play host Germany, France and Nigeria in the opening round.



“There was a lot of hard work and a lot of stuff (we did) away from the soccer pitch,” said Kyle of her development in Saskatoon. “I remember going to the gym before school after my parents would drop me off at (around) six in the morning. You would work out in the morning and then go to the RTC (Regional Training Centre) after school. I just really developed from there and I owe it a lot to my coaches.”



After narrowly missing the cut at the provincial level, Kyle was working her way up through the national youth system with the U-16, U-17 and U-20 teams. In 2006, she took part in her first CONCACAF youth tournament, helping the team finish second and qualify for the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Russia 2006. Two years after that, she took part in another CONCACAF Women’s Under-20 Championship, this time winning continental gold en route to the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Chile 2008.



Kyle’s development as a midfielder really took off after she met coach Carolina Morace in 2009. She took part in coach Morace’s first training camp in February 2009.



“My body has changed, my mentality has changed, my fitness has changed, my strength and speed has changed,” said Kyle.



Kyle made her first five appearances with the national “A” team in 2008 (under then coach Even Pellerud), but earned five more under coach Morace in 2009. She then made 10 appearances in 2010, including five-straight starts at the 2010 CONCACAF Women’s World Cup Qualifier in Cancún, Mexico.



“Carolina really gave me an opportunity as we had some injuries coming up before the Canada-China PR match in Toronto (in September 2010),” said Kyle. “Things really went from there. She (Morace) has really worked with me on how to progress as a player and how to get better every day.



In Cancún, Canada won gold, lifting the trophy with a victory over Mexico in the championship final. Kyle’s family was in the crowd for the memorable event.



Kyle has not yet set expectations for her first FIFA Women’s World Cup, although she said the coaching staff has given her “all the tools” to succeed.



“I think I am progressively getting better every match and learning things from every time I play,” said Kyle. “I just have to continue learning not only from Carolina and the coaches, but also from the players that have been in the program for 10-12 years.”



Germany 2011 should provide Kyle with the perfect opportunity to show the world just how far she has come.



Learning from the Best



With Canada’s national “A” team, Kaylyn Kyle gets to learn from two of the best in the business in Diana Matheson and Christine Sinclair.



“I work really well with her,” said Kyle of Matheson. “If she needs to scream at me (to get me going), I don’t take it personally because I know how good she is and I know she is doing it to make me a better person and player.”



As for Sinclair, Kyle sees her as of the very best players in the world.



“She is just a phenomenal player both on and off the field,” said Kyle of Sinclair. “She leads by her performance on the field and by her work ethic.”