The image of Brandi Chastain ripping off her jersey to expose her sports bra and ripped physique in celebration of the United States women's World Cup soccer championship in 1999 inspired young players everywhere to grab a soccer ball and begin practicing.

Years later, she's hoping to do the same for Hawai'i, when she holds two clinics with The Chastain Soccer Academy later this month on O'ahu and Maui.

Chastain runs the clinics with her brother, Chad, and other coaches. With Hawai'i players already highly skilled, Chastain hopes to help them grasp a better understanding of their physical abilities and how and when to use them.

"The players get a lot of technical work and there's been a lot of focus on that part of their game (in Hawai'i)," Chastain said. "They need more work on the physical side of the game. They are very nice, and have tremendous sportsmanship, but I want to enhance the fact they can be technical and tactical and be very aggressive at the same time."

Chastain, whose connection with Hawai'i includes having Kamehameha Schools girls and Leahi Soccer Club coach Michele Nagamine as a former teammate at Santa Clara and working with the state's Olympic Development Program, said Hawai'i players are "intelligent"and "fun to teach because they like learning."

"There's some great players," she said. "I love the girls. They are all just thirsty for getting new info."

She also hopes to instill the love of the game in the players, which will lead to more of them advancing their careers.

"The only person who is going to make a difference on making it to the next level is you," she said.

Reach Leila Wai at lwai@honoluluadvertiser.com.