Big News: PPA Welcomes Sara Shehabi as New Director of Coaching!

The PPA Team
Apr 17
3 min read

Updated: Apr 21

4/17/25

We’re thrilled to announce a major addition to the PPA family: Sara Shehabi has officially joined us as our new Director of Coaching!

Sara brings a world-class background to PPA, with over a decade of coaching and sports science experience, as well as time as a former women’s national team player for Jordan. Her leadership across coaching, performance analysis, biomechanics, and player development will be instrumental as we continue on our path toward becoming the leading travel soccer program in the region.

Sara’s resume is as impressive as it gets:

Master’s Degree in Sport and Exercise Science from the University of Lincoln (UK)
Former Head Coach and Technical Director for Amman FC’s women’s professional team
Head Coach and Sport Scientist for Istiqlal Sporting Club, leading U15 through senior teams
Performance Analyst using cutting-edge tools like GPS tracking, Veo video technology, and physiological testing
Holder of an AFC A Coaching Diploma, the highest coaching license in Asian Football Confederation
Certified WADA Anti-Doping Advisor and trained in FIFA women's football coaching

Sara doesn’t just bring elite credentials — she brings a winning mentality, international experience, and a commitment to developing every player.

A Huge Step Forward for Girls Soccer at PPA

This hire comes at a perfect time. With PPA’s recent acceptance into the GA Aspire League — the nation’s top platform for girls soccer, recent partnership with the Washington Spirit, and recent jersey deal with Nike Soccer, bringing Sara is the final piece of the puzzle to position PPA for the future.

With Sara’s leadership, we are doubling down on our mission: to provide a true player development pathway for both boys and girls, giving all athletes the chance to reach their full potential.

A Note from Annie Worden, PPA Director:

"In the last five years, PPA has won seven Maryland State Championships across several age groups. Our goal now is to elevate our teams and compete at the highest regional and national levels possible — and we believe we’re getting closer to that dream. Bringing in someone like Sara, with international coaching experience and a deep background in sports science, is a huge leap forward. I'm especially proud to continue building a leadership team with strong female role models at the top. We couldn't be more excited to welcome her to PPA!"— Annie Worden, PPA Director

A Note from Sara Shehabi, PPA DOC:

"I'm incredibly excited to join PPA as the new Director of Coaching, It's an honor to bring my international experience and passion for player development to such as forward-thinking club. I can't wait to contribute to the growth of the players and the PPA community!"— Sara Shehabi, PPA DOC

⚽️ Tryouts Are Now Open!

With this announcement, we’re officially opening tryouts for the 2025–26 PPA Premier Girls teams. We’re looking for talented, dedicated players born between 2013 and 2006 to join us on this journey.

👉 Click here to register for tryouts

Whether you're new to PPA or returning, this is the time to get on the field and be a part of something special. Let’s show what PPA players are made of.

If you have any questions about the ASPIRE League or our Premier Girls Program, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team.