Jamie Reedy brings a combination of youth development, healthcare leadership, organizational psychology, and enthusiasm to New Haven Youth Soccer (NHYS). With an extensive background in child/adolescent development, youth psychology, public health, and physical therapy, Jamie offers a unique perspective on supporting young athletes, fostering team culture, and helping players develop the confidence to succeed both on and off the field.

Unlike many coaches who discovered soccer as a child, Jamie's passion for the sport began while she watched the 2014 FIFA Men’s World Cup with her now-husband, Britt Hafner. Jamie was a multisport youth athlete in Virginia with experience playing on Junior Olympic volleyball teams, gymnastics, travel competition softball, and competitive cheerleading. In high school, Jamie was selected from cheerleaders across the country to perform at the Florida Citrus Bowl College Football Halftime Show and in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Jamie also cheered in college until a knee injury ended her career. After college, Jamie served as an assistant cheer and tumbling coach and an assistant volleyball coach for a premier club.

Since joining New Haven Youth Soccer with Coach Britt Hafner in 2025, Jamie has served as his team manager and assistant coach. What began as an opportunity to support team communication and serve as a family liaison quickly developed into a genuine passion for supporting the incredible young athletes and families who make the club special.

Jamie's approach to youth athletics is deeply influenced by her background in child and adolescent psychology, organizational development, and public health.

She recognizes that young athletes are developing far more than technical soccer skills. They are navigating growth spurts, building self-confidence, learning to overcome challenges, establishing relationships, and discovering how to contribute to something larger than themselves. Working alongside Coach Britt, Jamie helps identify player strengths and areas for growth, finds creative ways to break down complex drills and skills so players understand the process, identifies the right motivation for the specific player, and helps players prevent and recover from injuries. Jamie places particular importance on creating an environment where players feel valued, supported, and comfortable expressing their personalities. She believes that when young athletes feel comfortable on their teams, they become more confident, engaged, and willing to take on new challenges.

She reinforces a team culture centered on principles that promote fun, development, and leadership:

Recognizing that lessons in resilience, accountability, communication, and sportsmanship extend far beyond the soccer field, Jamie is particularly passionate about ensuring that every player feels seen and appreciated as an individual. Whether celebrating a breakthrough during practice, offering encouragement after a difficult match, or simply sharing a laugh with the team, she understands that some of the most meaningful moments in youth sports happen beyond the scoreboard. For Jamie, one of the most rewarding aspects of working with youth soccer players is reminding them of the simple joy of playing the game.

Outside New Haven Youth Soccer, Jamie has built her career at the intersection of cancer care, research, and organizational leadership.

Jamie is a Doctor of Public Health candidate at the University at Albany, where her research centers on adolescents and young adults with cancer, with a specialized focus on scalable strategies to improve cancer awareness, knowledge, and peer support through entertainment education, health communications & literacy, systems change, and implementation science. In addition to her own research portfolio, she works collaboratively with several multi-institutional research teams supporting adolescents and young adults with cancer and mentoring other younger researchers.

She holds a Master's degree in Child & Adolescent Developmental Psychology and is ABD for her PhD in International Psychology, specializing in Organizations and Systems, both from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. She often collaborates with global scientists in support of various global health initiatives. Her academic and work background also includes education and experience in physical therapy, with 5+ years of experience developing teen and young adult athletes and supporting their safe recovery from injuries and surgery.

Currently, Jamie is the first Program Manager for Yale’s Early Onset Cancer Program - one of the nation's first multidisciplinary, pan-cancer programs dedicated to serving the comprehensive needs of all young adults with early-onset cancer. Her work spans program development, implementation, management, and evaluation of several initiatives, including patient navigation, comprehensive psychosocial support, multidisciplinary research, clinical education, and community engagement.

This combination of experience and expertise gives Jamie a distinctive perspective on youth athletics. She understands that successful development requires attention not only to physical performance, but also to psychological well-being, positive relationships, healthy environments, and the systems of support surrounding each young athlete. Jamie brings that same thoughtful, evidence-informed mindset to her work with NHYS, helping cultivate a team environment where players are encouraged to grow physically, mentally, socially, and emotionally. She also emphasizes strong communication and clear expectations so all families can feel like part of the NHYS family. She is always happy to chat with players and families to learn more about their motivations to help create and tailor individualized development plans for players of all ages and skill levels.

While her professional career and academic pursuits demand considerable dedication, she continues to make time for the NHYS community because she believes deeply in the value of positive youth experiences.

Jamie loves the intersection of art & literature. She is a big fan of re-reading the classics - ask her about her favorites, and she will light up. She also loves experiencing plays and stories in new formats, including reimagined theater shows, opera, ballet, and immersive theater/dance experiences. As a teenager, she was scouted and cast as a Disney kid, but ultimately chose to focus on her family and pursuing academics. One day she hopes to find the time to explore community theater and reconnect with her love of art, literature, and theater.

Jamie’s favorite part of New Haven Youth Soccer has been developing meaningful, genuine connections with the players and families who make up the organization. “When we see players who were ready to leave the game, and we can help them rediscover the love of soccer again…seeing these players find a new drive to keep developing their skills…that makes it all worth it!” - Jamie Reedy

Jamie and Coach Britt share a common philosophy: Soccer should challenge young athletes to become better players while inspiring them to become confident, compassionate, and well-rounded individuals - no matter how many years they’ve played, their skill level, or their competition level. Together, they strive to create an environment where players work hard, support their teammates, celebrate their progress, and never lose sight of why they started playing in the first place.