The women came from all over the North Island to attend a three day Auckland-based coaching course – namely New Zealand Football’s first senior level coaching course attended exclusively by, and tailored specifically to, females.
To put it in perspective, the average number of females attending senior courses over the past three years has only been about two or three per year proving NZF may just have hit upon something with a female-specific offering.
“We know the demand is out there and it’s growing as the infrastructure grows, and that more and more females see that there is a viable pathway for them within the game,” NZF Women’s Development Manager Emma Humphries says.
“We are building a female football culture around the game in New Zealand and the success of coaching courses like this one shows that if we can get it right, we can make great strides into growing a base of female coaches around the country.”
Humphries says females coaching females is a long-term but fundamental philosophy for women’s football development.
Humphries was joined in leading the weekend by NZF’s Head of Football Development Bev Priestman, who delivered sessions alongside Football Ferns head coach Tony Readings and New Zealand U-20 women’s coach Aaron McFarland. The pair were also assisted by Football Ferns legend Wendi Henderson throughout the course.
Humphries says she is already targeting at least two more female-only courses in 2013 including one in the South Island, while looking at other structures to support female coaches and help them learn from other coaches.
Henderson, who won 64 caps for the Football Ferns over a 21-year international career and holds a Level 3 coaching badge, is well placed to judge the significance of New Zealand’s first female-only senior coaching course.
“This is a sign of where the game is at,” Henderson says.
“When I did my coaching badges back in the early 2000s, I was the only female there. The game has changed over that time, and the women’s game has changed massively over the time I’ve been involved.
“Getting more female coaches involved through opportunities like this will provide more role models for the game. It’s taking that next step and that’s fantastic.”
Henderson already had an extensive playing career and local coaching experience behind her when she pursued coaching qualifications but admits even she took a little time to adapt to an otherwise male environment.
“When I think back to when I was involved you felt isolated and it took a lot to get out there, get amongst it and realise that ‘Hey, I do know what I’m talking about. I can play this game and I can coach it’.”
Henderson believes confidence plays a role in making an all-female course so accessible.
“It’s probably not so intimidating, and I know that might sound a bit harsh. Males on the courses maybe know the game or think they know the game, and have been involved as a player or coach at some level so they come along to a course full of confidence.
“Females may be different in that they don’t necessarily come with a lot of confidence but by creating an environment that’s safe to learn, to develop, and crucially to make mistakes, helps strip away the nerves and instil that confidence. It also creates an environment where they can bounce ideas off each other because they are not intimidated.”
Over the course of the long weekend, participants were exposed to sessions on a range of subject including the principles and process of coaching, management of different formats of practices and on-field demonstrations from the qualified instructors. The candidates themselves paired up to apply their learnings to practical delivery of sessions on the final day of part one.
Henderson recommends the course to budding female coaches regardless of their level or aspirations and also to clubs committed to developing a strong female culture in their women’s teams.
“If anyone can come on a course and take away something that will benefit their club then that’s great for the game as a whole. You’re also ultimately looking for people who will start at the grassroots and move up.”
The Senior Level 2 course concludes with part three early next year as candidates are assessed over two days in January having applied and developed their knowledge in their own coaching environments.
Story courtesy of New Zealand Football.
For more on New Zealand Football visit www.nzfootball.co.nz

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