Women in Football Network (WIFN): Football Victoria’s Administration Leadership Program 2018.
Empowering Women in Football.
Written by Ashlee Good 1/12/18
On Tuesday 27th October twenty women (including myself) were given the opportunity to present their Club Projects to a room full of people from the Australian Football (soccer) World. Some of these people included Rae Dower, Debbie Fisher, Maria Berry, Peter Filopoulos and Gary Cole.
Through Football Victoria’s (FV) Women in Football Administration Leadership Program twenty influential women involved in Football were selected from around Victoria to participate in the six month program. The program included workshops with Helen Tyrikos (Programs Coordinator – Women and Girls FV) and Carol Fox (Carol Fox & Co).
Throughout the last six months these women discussed all things football, leadership, communication, mentoring, self worth, confidence, personal brand, NPL and Community Clubs, role models, participation rates, sponsorship and opportunity. Imagine the positive influence this would have on these women? You guessed it. A room full of supportive people all batting the same issues within their own clubs, but rather than be ignored or disheartened, these discussions lead to breakthroughs, support networks, self confidence and even leadership positions.
The Club Projects ranged from referee programs, to increasing female participation rates, to sponsorship and fundraising options, cohesion between the senior and junior cohorts of the club and strategic planning. All relevant issues within most clubs; but now we are seeing ACTION take place.
The program is a huge step forward for Women in the Football. We need more females involved in Clubs. We need more female coaches. We need more female Presidents! Identifying influential women and empowering them to continue the great work they are doing will only benefit the world of football. Now these women can go back into their clubs and hopefully influence other women to get involved too.
I look forward to seeing everyone’s Club Projects come to fruition in 2019. Congratulations to all the girls who completed the program and were inducted into The Women in Football Network!
