Anne “Kip” Watson, aka The Football Chick, was voted by our readers the winner of this year’s Neighbors Choice Award as “Best Contributor” for the edition covering Frisco and Little Elm.

We invited Watson to give us more insight about herself and her roles as a Dallas Diamonds football player, wife and mother of two and what neighborsgo and this award means to her.

Birthday: June 27

Occupation: Mom and professional football player for the Dallas Diamonds Independent Women’s Football League.

Other jobs: My first job was gymnastics coach. I am also a Licensed Professional Counselor. I worked at Solutions for nearly a decade. It is an intensive outpatient chemical dependency unit. Currently, I also work at Restyle, a women’s consignment store in Frisco.

Family: My husband Scott, and two children, McKenna and Joshua.

Hobbies and interests: Kickboxing, reading, shopping, sewing, photography, writing and collecting Longaberger baskets.

Why did you join the Dallas Diamonds? I joined to fulfill a family dream. My 90-year-old grandmother passed down the love for football, along with my mom and dad. I grew up going to Ohio State Buckeye football games. I have loved football my whole life. So, when I was presented the opportunity to play full tackle football as a woman, I could not refuse. I had to try, even at nearly 42-years-old.

What do you like about playing football? I absolutely love the people, including my teammates, the coaches, the owners and the staff. They are the best women who come from all backgrounds and who are united to play a game we each love and were told at some point we couldn't play. No one has an ego. The veterans truly help guide and teach us this game. And, we all have other jobs and commitments, but we give of our time in order to play football and bring DFW fans more world championship titles. The owners, staff and coaches do an incredible job teaching us football, preparing us for games and providing us with what we need. I love the practices with my teammates, the training and learning this game I have loved for so long. It is much more strategic and dynamic than I ever thought. I am absolutely having the time of my life.

Volunteer and community service projects: I’ve done a lot of work over the past 14 years for Bent Tree Bible Fellowship, from serving and teaching from their high school ministry, and their children’s, women’s and leadership ministries. I also serve as a tech assistant at LegacyChristianAcademy and have participated in Walk for the Cure. Also, I have conducted a number of workshops and speaking engagements on health and fitness and eating disorders for high schools, colleges and churches across the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Importance of volunteering: Impacting others changes their lives. There is nothing greater than seeing someone grow, gain insight and improve themselves. Sometimes it is simply providing a meal for a friend or family who needs it. Other times, it is being present through a life crisis or illness. In some capacity, each of us can impact a life and make a difference using the skills, experiences and knowledge we have.

What would you change if you could? More and better marketing of women's football as a whole. In the Dallas-Fort Worth area we can't even get in the sports pages.

Where I would live if I could: I'd have three homes: Dillon, Co., Destin, Fla. and Columbus, Ohio. I miss the change of seasons and the snow and being around my family.

Favorite TV show: What Not to Wear.

What do you like to read? Depends on my mood. I read The Dallas Morning News every morning. Then, it ranges from Christian living and counseling literature, parenting books, fashion magazines, Country Living magazine, Sports Illustrated and John Grisham novels.

Best traits: Dedicated, hard-working, dependable, intuitive, creative, giving and loving

Worst traits: I’m not a good caretaker when someone is sick.

What do you like about neighborsgo? It’s a great way to know what’s going on in our community and see the great things people are doing and achieving.

What do you like about neighborsgo.com? It's an inspirational site that allows all of us to write and share our experiences, skills and insights. An example of this was when one of my teammates, who logged on to support me, found a great resource for a situation she is going through. It impacts people's lives.

Thoughts on winning this award: I am honored. It is truly humbling and exciting to know other people enjoy what I am writing.

Other favorite sites: dallasdiamondfootball.com and iwflsports.com

Summer plans: Playing football, training for next year, spending time with my kids and family and framing family pictures

Something people don’t know: I pig out on Grand Lux Cafe Chocolate Cake Collision from time to time.