Passion of the Pitch: Grace Henderson

“I want to throw away that feeling in the air, that women’s sports are less than”...

Upon first encountering Grace, she could very easily be misunderstood as someone who is very quiet and laid-back. Yet, as we all know about ourselves, the same is true about Grace; we all have multiple sides. 

If there is a soccer game to be played, coached, or organized, a different tone comes out. In my brief conversation with Grace, I witnessed this a variety of times, and the quote at the top is a perfect example. All of the kids come first, but as the oldest of 4 girls, seeing the development of young women in our program is a deep passion for her. 

Grace’s love of soccer began at 11 years old, as a part of a rec league in her hometown of Ellijay, Georgia. The facilities there at the time were nothing like what we’re able to provide for our programming at Soccer in the Streets: “The fields I learned on were located on a flood plain next to a chicken plant.” Apparently, the only other option was over 40 minutes away and cost thousands of dollars to enter. Grace faced the same challenge many of our boys and girls face at Soccer in the Streets.

Regardless of their modest means, the soccer community in Grace’s area produced some great coaches, several of whom she still calls friends today. Her high school coach, April Nicholson, was an amazing female role model; April was also the only woman coach during Grace’s childhood. Coach Bill and Coach Jim were also big influences on Grace; even in his 80s, Coach Jim still attends Atlanta United games with Grace and is a close family friend. 

“They inspired me to want to be, for my players, the same type of influence they were on me when I was a kid.” This quote from Grace was particularly impactful. There is amazing potential in the act of coaching; kids go through such rapid and constant development. It is impossible to know what they will and won’t keep or which special individuals might make the largest impact on their development, but if coaches make the effort, the potential is limitless. 

Along with her time playing soccer on her high school team, Grace also shared other pitches with some of her Latin American neighbors. Language was a consistent barrier, but with the support of her teammates and a wonderful caring community, she found those Sunday league games to be every bit as fulfilling, if not more so.

Now, as an adult coach, instructing kids from diverse backgrounds around the world, those same experiences ring true: “We do not speak the same language at all, but I know we can communicate through playing the game, and that requires no verbalizing at all. With our body language and the fun we have together, we can create friendships without speaking a single word”. 

Honoring that we are in March, Women’s History Month, we need to shine a special spotlight on the contributions of women. Grace had many more thoughts on women in soccer. When asked what her hopes for the future of SITS might be, she said: “I want to see more girls playing; because I know they are out there. And I want to see them continue past those ages where girls often start to fall off and leave sports.” 

“As a woman in this position, I consistently encourage my girls to pursue the game and enjoy themselves at whatever level they see fit. But for me, Grace, I am still experiencing discrimination on the pitch for being a girl. Even in 2024, playing soccer is an act of rebellion for women!”

“I have been playing soccer since I was 11 years old, and I am playing today as an adult. My experience is a testament to the fact that they are not going to kick me out; they are not making me go anywhere. Soccer is every bit as much mine as it is theirs, and I let the girls know that too“.