Soccer coaches play a pivotal role in the lives of their young students. But when Barbara Mallinson and Ennis Jones had a disagreement with their daughter’s coach, it threatened to end her zeal for the sport. To ensure she could continue playing in a safe space, they decided to start their own team. In the process, they developed Soccerhood, an online platform that is uniting soccer fanatics across Johannesburg.
“We started Soccerhood because we wanted to connect young children to trusted coaches in the local park or nearby space,” Mallinson says. Parents can go onto the website and search for a soccer circle in their area for their kids to join. This opportunity is not only benefiting children physically and mentally, but empowering people in need of a job. Potential coaches can apply for positions online and receive training. Soccerhood has so far employed 10 vetted coaches who run their teams through the website. "We wanted to create job opportunities while providing healthy and affordable exercise to our children," Mallinson says.
On the field, strong bonds are formed across generations. “The kids and the coaches have a special relationship built on a passion for the game,” Mallinson says. While giving children the space to be active and have fun, Soccerhood is enabling communities to grow and flourish. Here, it’s the kids who uplift the coaches.
