Say Hello to Helen,
Since she was a teenager, Helen has been coaching and supporting people to develop a love of sport.
From gymnastics to volleyball, Helen coached it. First in Australia, and now for 15 years in New Zealand, mostly with Mount Albert Ponsonby Football Club.
Anyone associated with the club probably knows Helen. MAPAFC and football have become a significant part of her life; indeed, she found her partner through football. She’s literally ‘married to the game’.
She now runs the junior and youth side of the club, her most recent achievements being getting the club’s ‘First Kicks’ programme on Friday nights from 12 to over 80 kids. Along with the club’s first junior girls-only teams, she volunteers her time, helping the club’s teams with extra support, coaching and showing up around the city as and when needed.
“I couldn’t imagine doing anything else,” says Helen. “The coaching and refereeing now keep me busy, so I don’t play as much as I used to.
The coaching allows me to remain involved and actively grow our club and sport. It also shows that football and coaching can be for anyone.”
“Giving young players the tools and the love for the game, watching them build resilience and long-lasting friendships together is success for me. And the icing on the cake is if those players choose to continue in the game.”
