Well, Halloween came a little bit earlier for the USWNT as they prepared themselves for a great night filled with costumes and sweets. But with a twist, Emma Hayes’s son Harry, who is all of six years old, was set to go trick-or-treating at the team’s hotel in Louisville. The excited child planned to don his “scary skeleton” costume for the festivities, but when Rose Lavelle offered to add some excitement with a smoke machine and strobe, Hayes couldn’t help but step in.

Emma Hayes noted, “He’s a skeleton—scary one at that.” While the six-year-old was game to don his costume, his mother knew just how scary a child his age could handle. Lavelle’s expansive plans to make the evening a little more special were enticing, but Hayes had concerns that Harry was not prepared to confront a “haunted” environment.  Hayes even jokingly pleaded with the energetic Lavelle, saying, “He’s six. Rose, please.”

Emma Hayes keeping Halloween fun and fear-free for her child

For Lavelle, known for her playful spirit, Halloween was a chance to shine. Yet Hayes, protective by nature, emphasized a key balance. Parents must blend fun with age-appropriateness. Six-year-olds adore costumes, candy, and play. However, there’s a line between fun scares and true fright.

In a playful, motherly way, Hayes balanced the excitement of her son with a healthy dose of caution as she set boundaries, and with her son happy in his skeleton costume, as well as the rest of the team coming together in costume, it was guaranteed to be a night filled with laughter, camaraderie, and just enough Halloween spirit to keep the fun alive without crossing over into too much fright.

Whether sitting on the bench or celebrating Halloween with her son, Emma Hayes shows leadership shines not just through tactics but through a nurturing, thoughtful approach. And for USWNT, Halloween will become a special moment.