Brodsgaard Named National Goalkeeping Coach

Ottawa, Ontario – The Canadian Soccer Association (CSA) today announced the appointment of Shel Brodsgaard as the association’s first National Goalkeeping Coach effective January 1st, 2004.



Brodsgaard’s responsibilities are to coach goalkeepers with the Women’s World Cup team, the Women’s Under-19 team, the National Development teams, and the National Training Centres across Canada.



“This is an exciting step forward for Canadian Soccer,” said Brodsgaard. “I consider this an honour and a privilege to be appointed as Canada’s first full time goalkeeper coach.”



A member of the 1992 Canadian Olympic Qualifying team, Brodsgaard has represented Canada as a player at the international level. He has contributed as a goalkeeper coach with Canada’s 2002 Women’s Under-19 Championship silver medal team, and recently with the Canadian Women’s World Cup team who placed fourth at this year’s 2003 FIFA Women’s World Cup in the United States.



“Over the last three years he has had a phenomenal impact on the performance level of our World Cup goalies and his competence and work ethic is invaluable for the women’s program,” said Women’s World Cup head coach Even Pellerud.



“With Shel in this position, the program is well equipped to meet the upcoming challenges for the World Cup team as well as the U-19 team. It has been a priority for me to have Shel on a full time basis and I am very pleased this will be a reality in 2004.”



As an assistant coach, Brodsgaard earned a 2001 NAIA Championship with Simon Fraser University Women’s team.



Brodsgaard played as a professional in the Canadian Soccer League with the Edmonton Brickmen, the Victoria Vistas, the Nova Scotia Clippers, the North York Rockers and the Winnipeg Fury and internationally with a season with the Tacoma Stars of the Major Indoor Soccer League in the US, then with Denmark’s Hvidovre Football Club.



Brodsgaard began playing with the Gorge Youth Soccer Association and represented British Columbia at both the Under 16 and Under 18 Provincial All-Star levels.



In addition to his lengthy playing career, Brodsgaard recently published in 2003 an instructional book for youth goalkeepers and community level coaches named Guarding the Goal. In addition, he has acquired an NCCP level “C” coaching certification and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Victoria.