Milton Ulladulla Football Club is thrilled to celebrate 40 incredible years of women's football, a journey marked by passion, dedication, and countless unforgettable moments. As part of our commemoration, we shine a spotlight on Jacinta (Jay) Henry, a remarkable player, coach, and parent whose commitment has been one of the many contributors to the growth and success of our club.
I started playing football in Canberra at around the age of 6, and for the last few years have been playing winter and summer soccer with MUFC. For the last couple of years I’ve been involved in junior coaching of my son’s team, and in 2023, helped out with the Cubs age group of the summer competition. Seeing the number of registrations for the Cubs competition explode on the back of the Women’s World Cup was unreal. It was also great seeing so many young players joining and enjoying the summer competition having not played before. When you join MUFC, you become part of a really special community.
1. What motivated you to become a junior football coach, and how do you envision positively impacting the lives of young players in our community?
I want to share my passion for football with young players and do what I can to develop and foster a love of the game in them. Football is so much more than a sport and provides players so much more than physical benefits. As a junior coach, it’s my goal to create a team environment where every player feels welcome, seen, and valued, regardless of their football skill. I hope to provide an environment that players look forward to coming to for training and playing, where they know they will be met with a smile and a high-5. I want to encourage young players to stay playing the beautiful game for many, many years.
2. Can you share a favourite coaching moment with young players that highlights the joy and growth you've witnessed in their development?
A couple of moments from last season stick with me - such as players not wanting training to end because they were having so much fun, and in games, seeing players applying skills that we worked on at training. Watching players develop and improve their football skills as individuals and as a team, and seeing their friendships and connections with each other develop and strengthen over the season are definitely some of my favourite reflections.
3. How do you plan to create a fun and inclusive environment for the young players, fostering both skill development and a love for the game?
I try to be encouraging, enthusiastic and fun in my approach to coaching, through my words and actions, and the training sessions I run. There are a lot of great training resources available that combine fun games with skill development. I also think back to what I enjoyed at training as a junior when I was fortunate enough to have some terrific coaches. I observe how players seem to be engaging and enjoying the session and ask players for their thoughts. I appreciate children’s honesty in responding! If players aren’t engaging and enjoying the activity, the activity is pointless.
4. What role do you see parents and families playing in the success of our junior football program, and how do you plan to involve them in the coaching process?
Parent and families engagement and involvement are critical for the success of our junior football program. As a coach, having the support and assistance of parents and families makes a big difference. From washing jerseys to helping set up or pack down nets - it all goes a long way in helping junior coaches and it is really appreciated. A big shout out to the wonderful parent helpers who have supported me!
The involvement of parents and families in the coaching process is particularly important. They are an integral part of the team. I like to communicate before the season starts with some info on who I am and how I’ll be coaching and what I’ll be focusing on with the team during the season. I then regularly communicate throughout the season and encourage them to have a chat with me, especially if there’s anything I can do to further support their child in their football journey. I try to be open, approachable and welcoming in my communication.
5. In your football journey, what values or life skills do you prioritise imparting to your young players, both on and off the field?
A top priority for me is to create a team environment and culture that is built around key values such as having fun, being kind, and giving it a go. Behaving in line with those values is critical as a coach. When coaching juniors, I try to keep it simple and short in terms of talking, so the players can get on and play football! Before every game, the team and I quickly remind ourselves what our focus of the day is. In the simplest terms, it is to have fun and show kindness to ourselves, our team, the other team and officials. We back that up with our actions, thanking the opposition and officials, acknowledging good play by the other team, encouraging our team mates, and being positive towards ourselves, especially when things don’t go the way we hoped. Young players need to be encouraged to try new things on the football field and they won’t always work. These are all learning opportunities that I want my team to feel supported to take.