HELP Podcast
Coaches high fiving players
Initiatives

Female Coach Development Opportunities

Find out more about the support available for females looking to get involved in delivering football.

Initiative Overview

Introduction to Coaching Football

Programmes:

Stepping over the Sidelines

Women's Coach Development Groups

Community Champions

Mentoring

Looking to take that step over the sidelines?

The FA and England Football Learning are committed to creating more opportunities for girls to play and for female role models to get involved in the game.

As the Lionesses captured the hearts of an entire nation at the Women's Euro 2022, the time to inspire young girls and show them that they do have a place in the game is now. Whether it's at school, after school, at local clubs, or anywhere else!

In order for girls to play, we need more volunteers, coaches and role models to help deliver football and help the next generation fall in love with the game. Quite simply, we want to break down the barriers that currently exist.

If you want to play an active role in your child’s football experience but aren’t quite sure where to start, who to speak to or whether it’s something you’d enjoy, then we want to give you the support, guidance and information you need to take the next step. Keep scrolling to find out how we can help.

If you’d like to find out more about our mission to help girls gain access to football, visit Let Girls Play.

Watch Ikra's story of how she got involved in coaching football

How can we support you?

There are a number of programmes, workshops and taster sessions delivered locally to help you find out more about coaching. Find out more below.

Stepping over the Sidelines

Stepping over the Sidelines is a local workshop is designed to offer mums, female guardians, helpers, assistants and young leaders the opportunity to have a first look at how you might be able to get involved in football.

The workshop also gives a flavour of the next steps for anyone who might like to consider getting involved. That could include:

  • Our EE Playmaker by England Football course
  • Our Introduction to Coaching Football course
  • Being more involved at your local club, recreation session or Weetabix Wildcats venue, perhaps as a coach, assistant, helper, or volunteer.

    •  

    Women's Coach Development Groups

    This group is a fantastic opportunity for female coaches of any level, not only to network with other female coaches across the county but to have access to specific coach development workshops both face-to-face and online.  

    Being a part of the group give you the chance to meet other female coaches who you can share you experiences with, explain your coaching journey (no matter what stage you’re at), create new ideas together, all with the support of England Football Learning.  

    You can join this group at any point, whether you have just started coaching your child as a volunteer, or whether you’re coaching professionally! This group is for you and there is tailored support for your level.

    The group is completely flexible to you as well! Sessions take place on various days/evenings to suit everyone as we know not everybody trains on the same nights and everyone has other family commitments.

     

    Community Champions

    Community Champions support and grow the grassroots game and support new volunteers to get involved.

    From helping female coaches build their confidence and step over the sidelines to exploring opportunities outside of weekly football sessions, a Community Champion is an individual who inspires others to improve and enjoy delivering football.

    Find out more about our Community Champions programme.

     

    Mentoring

    England Football Learning's mentoring offer exists to support, encourage & challenge coaches to manage their own learning within their own specific context, helping them maximise their potential, develop their skills, recognise their attributes; and all towards them becoming the coach & person they want to be.

    Our mentors provide one-to-one face-to-face support for female coaches to break down barriers, improve their skills and support players. If you'd like to receive support from a mentor this season, you can register your interest.

     If you'd like to find out more, visit our Mentoring section.