Plans by the NSWRL to create more opportunities for female coaches, raise the standard of coaching in the women’s game and bring more mentors into Rugby League’s fastest-growing area, have received a boost from the NSW Government.
The NSWRL is one of 17 organisations to receive a grant under the “Her Sport Her Way” strategy to drive change in women’s sport, create leadership opportunities, and inclusiveness.
A need to improve qualifications and standards for women and men when it came to specifically coaching female athletes, alongside raising the number of women coaches in the game, was the focus of the NSWRL’s application for part of the $640,000 NSW Government funds.
The NSWRL has plans for an education program “A League of Their Own” for 40 women and men, who coach women’s Rugby League, to delve into all aspects of the female game – the unique physical, tactical, social, biological, and technical parts.
They would attend a conference and seminars before entering a mentoring program with established male and female coaches.
“We’re looking at targeting existing female coaches, who aspire to coach at higher levels of the game as well as retired and even current female players, who wish to transition into coaching,” said NSWRL Head of Community Engagement Tracie Edmondson.
“We’re also keen to recruit new females and males into the coaching ranks for women’s and girls’ teams in our competitions.
“A key focus will be on acknowledging and catering for the differences between coaching males and females.”
Currently there are 600 female coaches involved in the game with 84 per cent at junior level, 16 per cent at senior level. But the female coaches comprise less than 10 per cent of all coaches across more than 100,000 participants.
