Sports Coach #159: Jules Hay - Learn How to Scaffold Your Coaching for Greater Equity & Inclusion

Sports Coach, Jules Hay, is the Participation and Inclusion Manager in Rugby (Melbourne, Australia). In this episode, we explore the dimensions of equity and inclusion within coaching, addressing topics such as how to build great clubs, and the creation of a positive learning environment. With over 20 years of experience spanning education and sports sectors, including roles such as Director of Sport, Head of Physical Education, and lecturer, Jules brings a wealth of knowledge to the table. As a passionate advocate for encouraging more women and girls to become coaches, she has coached football extensively across various levels, from Auskick to high-performance programs within the VFLW for Williamstown. Join us as we uncover key insights and practical tips to scaffold your coaching for greater equity and inclusion, fostering a community where everyone feels valued and empowered.

Check out the key moments below;

• 1.15: What do you like to eat for breakfast on a Sunday morning?
• 1.51: What does it mean to be an inclusion manager? Great clubs build community and a sense of belonging!
• 4.26: What makes a great club? The first experience matters! Are you creating a safe space with a buddy system?
•  6.50: Why is it important to have women and girls as role models (visibility)?
  • Self-worth
  • Your voice is heard
• 8.20: Myth Busters:
  • Young girls love the physicality of football
    • Coaches: Make sure you scaffold your coaching (progress your drills slowly)
• 15.41: Coaching presence - don't miss the moment to adapt your plan and you need to have self-belief in your decision-making.
• 18.05: What's your advice on performance management?
• 20.08: How do you help someone see their blind spots? They have to be ready and you have to work together. Then pick the right time and adapt your style of communication to get the message across. You can address these situations from a team perspective ("we" language).
• 22.26: Shout to the Northern Golf Club Division 3 Pennant team (The Trutles) who used "we" language to great effect and came together to finish third in 2024!
• 23.11: Equal playing time: You are only as good as everyone functioning as a team!
• 24.01: What does creating a positive learning environment look like, sound like, and feel like? 
  • Safe space - voices to be heard
  • Messages are delivered respectfully
  • Connection, listening, support, and resilience
• 27.17: Positive language tips:
  • The use of non-gendered language 
  • Use a strengths-based approach
  • The truth about the sandwich feedback approach
  • Bring your energy and belief to a conversation (your players and team members will feel the difference)
• 33.03: What makes a great coach?  
  • 1) Clear communicators
  • 2) Relationships (hearing their success stories many years later)
• 36.24: TEDxToronto - Drew Dudley "Leading with Lollipops"
  (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVCBrkrFrBE)
• 37.34: Disruptive idea in 2030: Cross-pollination of sports and businesses (work with others to help create best practices by thinking differently.
• 40.58: The need for funding, breaking through the glass ceiling, and gaining male champions of change to support the women (by giving them the toolkit to advocate other men).

The Coaching Podcast is sponsored by The Sampson Agency - a talent entertainment and sports management company owned and operated by Tina Samara.

Visit: www.thesampsonagency.com or  email: [email protected]

To learn more about becoming a workplace coach or advancing your coaching skills, visit: www.opendoorcoachingusa.com or email: [email protected] 

About Jules Hay - Participation and Inclusion Manager (Rugby) – Sports Coach

Julia has a background of over 20 years working within the education and sport sectors in roles such as; Director of Sport, Head of Physical Education, lecturer, Participation & Inclusion Manager, and numerous sports coaching roles. She has assisted the AFL with the Junior Curriculum, as an Ambassador and was a panel member for the Women’s Coaching Month seminars on coaching girls in football. Julia has coached football for the past 9 years across Auskick, junior club, senior club, school football, and high-performance programs within the VFLW for Williamstown. Julia has attended and assisted with the delivery of numerous coach education workshops, including completing her Level 3 AFL Coaching Accreditation in 2022. She is a passionate advocate of encouraging more women and girls to become coaches and loves working within her community to create inclusive club environments.

Connect with Jules on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jules-hay/