Want to know some more about Football Australia's new Participation Officers?
Recently, Football Australia has brought on board Participation Officers in each state to assist with the operations and delivery of MiniRoos sessions.
First up, we caught up with Joseph Wright from the Australian Capital Territory to learn a bit more about his coaching journey and what he loves most about it!
Joseph, when did you start your coaching career?
“I began my coaching journey as a 16-year-old in the small community of Bulahdelah on the NSW Mid North Coast. I played in the local competition as did my two younger brothers and younger sister. A new season was about to begin and the team that one of my brothers was playing in needed a coach. I volunteered to coach with a friend of mine who also played football for our local team. From then on I was hooked on coaching football.
Moving forward to present day almost 12 years later and I am coaching in my second home of Canberra at Gungahlin United. I am currently the head coach of Gungahlin’s NPLW Reserve Grade and Under 11’s girls development team which keeps me busy on the weekends.
On weekdays, I am a Participation Officer with Football Australia. This role allows me to share my passion for football with others by delivering football sessions to children ranging from those who have never played football before, to children who are aspiring to be future Matildas and Socceroos. These sessions are about the kids enjoying themselves and participating whilst hopefully learning a few things along the way!"
What do you love most about coaching?
"It’s hard to choose just one thing that I enjoy the most about coaching as there are so many different things. If I had to choose, the most enjoyable thing about coaching for me is seeing a young boy or girl try football for the first time and see how much they progress within that first year. It is an amazing feeling to see a kid who struggles to just kick the ball to start with, but is having the time of their life running around with friends.
Fast forward a year later and to watch the same kid score a goal and see that same enjoyment coupled with the sense of achievement on the kids face is incredible!"
Why should someone pick football?
"The main reason that I encourage people to play football is very simple and the reason I got involved in the first place: Community. I love the sense of community that comes with football. It doesn’t matter if you are playing for a club on the weekend, in the backyard with your family or playing with your friends at school they all provide a sense of community. Within those respective communities you are getting outside and being active, working as part of a team and being able to express yourself creatively through football.
That is one of the reasons that I encourage people to play football, but there are so many more!”