Hazen Sewell: 2025 PCA Coach of the Year Top 10 National Winner presented by TeamSnap

Coach Hazen exemplifies the power of sports to teach players essential life skills, focusing on growth, resilience, and empathy rather than merely on winning. In fact, she is much less focused on winning than most coaches. Rather, she is focused on her players growing, developing, forming community, and having fun!

Coach Sewell often uses “check-ins” at the start of practice to see where each player is mentally, physically, and emotionally for the day. This approach fosters emotional awareness and shows her players that their mental and emotional well-being are as important as physical performance. It also shows that an adult cares about them, prioritizing their well-being over performance.

Coach Hazen sees mistakes not as failures but as vital opportunities for learning and growth. She never reprimands players for errors but instead encourages them to see setbacks as a chance to improve. She praises players for trying new skills or playing in unfamiliar positions, and her enthusiastic support when they have success shows them that growth often requires stepping out of one’s comfort zone, a lesson that goes beyond soccer.

Importantly, Coach Hazen demonstrates a strong commitment to accessibility in youth sports, volunteering her time to ensure that financial barriers do not prevent kids from participating. She maintains low-cost access for her team, volunteering not only as a coach but also serving on the Governing Board of San Francisco Youth Soccer, where she advocates for affordable programs citywide.