These are the problems that the 2021 Female Coach Mentorship Programme seeks to address, says Cox. In addition, there also tends to be a lack of support to help the coaches progress (such as in coach education programmes) as well as celebrate their successes. International research shows that the higher the level, the fewer women there are holding coaching roles. “Currently in New Zealand we have a limited number of female coaches who are qualified to facilitate coach education and a growing number of females who are interested in gaining coaching qualifications, but fear being the only female on a course.” Having females in sporting organisations and coaching roles is crucial to changing the narrative around and visibility of female coaches, as well as help normalise coaching as a pathway for women - an area where they are considerably in the minority says Ashleigh Cox, New Zealand Football Women’s Development Manager.
(Clockwise from left) Gemma Lewis, Natalie Lawrence and Maia Vink will be mentors on the 2021 Female Coach Mentorship Programme. The programme is structured around New Zealand Football’s key strategic priorities of enriching lives through football and strengthening capability and leadership across women’s football. It is intended for female coaches currently involved in the game who want to progress their coaching career through the advanced coaching system. It will give them the opportunity to experience different high performance coaching environments, upskill their own individual coaching, and develop them holistically as a leader within football. The programme is designed to offer female coaches a supportive and safe environment for them to grow as a coach. The 2021 programme will see six female coaches mentored by three of New Zealand’s top female coaches with extensive experience both domestically and internationally – Gemma Lewis, Natalie Lawrence and Maia Vink – with the programme overseen by Football Ferns head coach Tom Sermanni.
Applications for the 2021 Female Coach Mentorship Programme are now open, and with them the opportunity to challenge the narrative around female coaches and coaching opportunities in football in Aotearoa New Zealand.
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