Los Fresnos Varsity Soccer player Attends Summer Training Camp

Updated: August 10, 2024

By Mike Villarreal

U.S. Women’s Deaf National Team head coach Amy Griffin selected 15 players for the team’s summer training camp, which took place from July 28 to August 2 at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. The camp concluded with a friendly game against the University of New Mexico Women’s Soccer Team on Saturday, August 2, at the UNM Soccer Complex.

Giselle Larraga, a player from Los Fresnos High School Varsity Soccer, was among the 15 players selected to attend the U.S. Women’s Deaf National Team’s summer training camp. Giselle has been playing for the Varsity Falcon Girls Soccer team since her freshman year and played as a forward during her time at the camp.

As the team prepares for the 2025 Deaflympics in Tokyo, Griffin has assembled a squad comprising experienced and emerging talents to broaden the player pool. Among the seven players who helped the U.S. secure victory in the 2023 DIFA World Deaf Football Championship, seasoned player Gracie Fitzgerald from Georgetown, Indiana, is part of the team.

Deaf Soccer is a unique discipline within U.S. Soccer’s ENT programming, encompassing a sport that closely resembles the standard game with a few notable adaptations to accommodate Deaf and hard-of-hearing athletes. Athletes must have a hearing loss of at least 55 decibels in their better ear to qualify for participation. During Deaf matches, all players are required to remove their hearing aids before taking the field. Additionally, referees utilize a combination of a flag and whistle-blowing to offer visual cues for players to discern when play has stopped. Despite these modifications, Deaf Soccer adheres to the standard 11-a-side Laws of the Game as governed by the International Football Association Board.
Photo by Los Fresnos CISD Facebook Page