
AMANDA FORESTER
EMAIL AMANDAOriginally from Virginia Beach, Va, Coach Amanda has been in the soccer world for 30 plus years. More than 12 years playing experience and 19 years of coaching. Her playing experience ranges from the United Soccer League with the Hampton Roads Piranhas 2nd team where she helped lead her team to the 2003 USL National Finals to the NCAA D3 College Game. Her playing experience first began with the Virginia Rush Travel Soccer Club programs, Kellam High School Varsity team, and continued through her collegiate soccer career at Ferrum College (NCAA DIII, ODAC).
In Fall 2004, Coach Amanda started her coaching journey and became the youngest Director of Goalkeeping at the age of 17 for the Old Dominion Select Travel Soccer Club in Virginia Beach, VA. She later worked with various PDP programs and travel teams with the Roanoke Stars Travel Soccer, Richmond Kickers, FC Richmond, and offered private coaching throughout the state of Virginia later founding the Richmond Goalkeeping Academy in 2008.
Over the last 19 years, Amanda and her staff have coached and mentored goalkeepers to help them move on to the D1, D2, D3 collegiate levels, High School Varsity, ECNL Girls and Boys, ECNL-R Girls and Boys, MLS NEXT Academy, Girl's Academy, Elite Travel teams, Eastern Regional, VA State, District ODP teams, Semi-Professional and Professional levels.
Her biggest focus is developing complete goalkeepers. Mentally, physically, as leaders on and off the field, and game ready. Coach Amanda's mentors and former coaches include Jay Hoffman (former Boston Breakers Head Coach and US Women's National Team Assistant Coach), Steve O'neil (former Director of Goalkeeping for USL W-League Hampton Roads Piranhas and Va Rush Soccer Club, Jon Busch ( retired 21-year MLS Goalkeeper and US Men's National Team member) and Eric Steele (Former Professional Goalkeeping Coach for Manchester United, Manchester City, and the English National Team and additionally former professional goalkeeper for Newcastle United).
Previously, Coach Amanda was the Goalkeeping Coach and Assistant Coach at Marymount University for their Women's and Men's Soccer Programs (Atlantic East Conference NCAA DIII). In July 2021, Longwood University Men's Soccer (NCAA D1 Big South) brought on Coach Amanda as their goalkeeping coach making her the third female in NCAA D1 Men's Soccer history to coach male goalkeepers.
Additionally, Amanda has been a rotating staff Goalkeeping coach with Virginia ODP's Goalkeeping Staff and previously held a shared role as Director of Goalkeeping with the Richmond Kickers Youth Soccer Club during Fall 2020 through Spring 2021.
Coach Amanda is currently RGA's Director of Goalkeeping and the Director of Goalkeeping for Skyline Elite's ECNL Boys and Girls Academy Girls teams.
Amanda resides in Richmond, Va and is passionate about leadership, mentorship, and developing the next generation of leaders in our sport and community. Her background is in business development, public speaking and coaching. She has been invited to come speak on mentorship, coaching and leadership in various settings with both the youth and adults.
Certifications: Welsh FA Goalkeeping License, Scottish FA Level 1 License, US Soccer D License, United Soccer Coaches Goalkeeping Diplomas, CPR and Safesport Certified