At an age when most athletes have long hung up their cleats, a group of women between 72 and 81 continues to chase a ball across fields and foreign lands. Known as Still Kickin’, the senior women’s soccer team was founded more than 25 years ago by Dawn Cole, a former mother‑coach who turned her love of the game into a lifelong camaraderie. The team now competes in the Veterans Cup in Burlington, Vermont, one of the nation’s largest tournaments for older adult players, and has traveled to Italy, Australia, New Zealand, Spain, Canada and venues across the United States.
Cole, now 78, still guards the goal and steers the squad as its manager, embodying the same determination that sparked the team’s inception. Her vision began on the sidelines, watching her own sons play, and grew into a collective of mothers who wanted more than a casual kick‑about. The original moniker, “Moms on the Run,” evolved into Still Kickin’ to signal their intent to compete in tournaments for women over 50, a name that now resonates with respect and resilience.
Legacy Beyond the Pitch
For these players, soccer is more than a pastime; it is a thread that weaves together friendships forged in youth, support that carried them through illness, loss and injury, and a shared sense of purpose that transcends the scoreboard. Their stories illustrate how sport can become a lifeline, offering both physical vitality and emotional grounding in the later chapters of life.
Cole’s influence extends into the community through her role on the board of Street Soccer USA Sacramento, an organization that provides free after‑school soccer programs at 28 Title I schools throughout the Sacramento region. By championing access for young girls, she hopes to give the next generation the opportunities she missed during a time when athletic programs for females were scarce.
From the streets of San Diego to the high deserts of Utah’s St. George, the team’s journey reflects a global tapestry of competition and connection. Their participation in international tournaments not only showcases their skill but also highlights the universal language of sport that bridges generations and continents.