What key structures need to be in place to ensure significant and sustained growth in women s football at all levels?

Transcription

1 Supporting Growth

2 What key structures need to be in place to ensure significant and sustained growth in women s football at all levels?

3 Why is structure important? Women s football today has 26 million participants worldwide and growing. The Big Count 2006 also shows that in many countries, this rate is growing significantly (e.g., 40% or more) Growth is one thing; how you absorb and support this growth is another. Do you have enough coaches, referees, leagues, teams and resources n place to support growth? Can you plan for this? Our research examines how associations are structured to accommodate and nurture the growth of women s football.

4 Key findings: what we know now about structure Key finding 1: Develop strong administration networks to support women s football and integrate these structures with those in place for the men s game Overwhelmingly, those associations enjoying significant growth and success found that integration with existing association structures to support men s football were critical.

5 Benefits from integration within the association are numerous Access to policy and decision-makers within government Greater high-level acceptance of the value of women s football and an ongoing commitment to delivery; Greater access to and involvement in various committee structures (and have the right women s committee!). The use active or former players is particularly recommended

6 Benefits from integration within the association are numerous Access to expertise & structures supporting the men s game, such as the programmes to train coaches, referees and volunteers and promoting access to these courses for women; Greater access to media and marketing campaigns, including joint positioning of men s and women s teams Greater awareness of the value, issues and benefits of promoting football for women and girls at all levels.

7 Key findings: what we now know about structure Key finding 2: Use regional networks to provide the resources to deliver growth Regional administration networks can be used to promote women s football and gain support from key individuals within local communities that cannot be achieved on a national basis. Many associations using dedicated women s development officers at the regional or national level have realised significant development of women s football in their association

8 Key findings: what we now know about structure Key finding 3: Establish a women s football development plan Ensures that clear goals and specific objectives for women s football are clear throughout the association and to partners! Plans without resources have limited chance for success and one begets the other Development of volunteers, coaches, referees as well as players are key elements of your development plan Include media and communications objectives within your plan Set measurable targets and track your progress against them

9 Key findings: what we now know about structure Key finding 4: Use competitions and events but plan for growth concurrently Competitions and events can generate significant demand for women s football but concurrent planning is needed alongside them to ensure that the subsequent demand for players, coaches, teams, referees, etc. can be met. Associations that are able to concurrently plan to this demand are the most successful in generating sustained growth but planning needs to start early.

10 Jacqueline Gertse Executive Committee Namibia Football Association

11 Ms. Jackey Gertse Supporting Growth of Women s Football in Namibia

12 Background & Context Location & Population South-West of Africa on the Atlantic coast, shares borders with Angola & Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south. Namibia has a total population of just over 2 Million inhabitants

13 Background & Context Women s Football in Namibia Prior to 2004, Namibia had a women s national team but with no definitive structures and competitions. Existing teams only played games on an ad hoc basis In 2004, a number of women s national team players established their own teams. Integration into the Namibia Football Association (NFA) was pertinent for the growth of the game

14 Background & Context A League consisting of 4 teams grew to 9 teams Huge media coverage In 2005, the women s league attracted a sponsorship of USD 6,500. This sponsorship conflicted with the NFA s sponsor. Growing media pressure & election of new NFA Exco in The NFA embraced women s football and pledged to support development programmes

15 Key Questions answered by this case study This case study outlines how the NFA approached the development of women s football by establishing strong structures and resources to maximise the growth of the women s game, and answers the following questions: What are the benefits of integrating women s football into the national governing body? Why are structures so important to promoting sustained growth? How can regional structures help to expand playing opportunities for women and girls? How can Associations develop support structures such as coaches, referees and volunteers?

16 Objectives Create more organised football opportunities Improve standard of play and attract more media Creating women football role models Promote more interest in participants and fans of women s football Provide appropriate structures for teams to develop and engage in competitions

17 Objectives Provide educational opportunities for female coaches, administrators, referees and volunteers in partnership with CAF-UEFA and FIFA s developmental programmes Maximum utilization of the FIFA annual grant (FAP) Attract additional funding to strengthen implementation of Women s Desk activities

18 What was done? Step 1 Prepared a development plan and presented it to the NFA Elected Women in Decision Making Positions Established NFA Women s Desk Step 2 Created a database, statistics of all stakeholders Awareness programmes-talent Identification Step 3 Targeted Namibian women already involved in football Established national and regional structures

19 What was done? Step 4 Development of female coaches, administrators, referees & volunteers through CAF-UEFA and FIFA Development programmes Step 5 Deliberate attempts to transform the image of WF to attract sponsors and supporters

20 Results obtained (1/2) Remarkable capacity building in coaching, administration & refereeing. Growth in community and national interest Establishment of 6 regional leagues Annual national championship Establishment of a senior national team Establishment of national U/20 & U/17 teams

21 Results obtained (2/2) Continuous Development of female coaches, referees & administrators Remarkable support from local & continental media Excellent working relationship with school sports offices Sports & technical scholarships for national players Launch of

22 Key Success Factors (1/3) Development Plan, endorsed by the NFA Promoting & supporting the development of women football at the highest level Support from NFA President & Secretary General essential NFA s initiative for availing office space & equipment Greater access to coaching and refereeing courses

23 Key Success Factors (2/3) Transparent financial management and accountability Efficient regional structures with clearly defined responsibilities Sustainability of volunteers fundamental in supplementing much needed human resources Appointed regional administrators in promoting women s football and gaining support from local communities Continuous and Timely Data updating and recording of players, coaches, administrators and referees

24 Key Success Factors (3/3) Proper utilization of FIFA resources for coaching, administration & referee courses Annual tours of the national team to regions accelerated greater interest in women s football Maximise on sound relationships with the media German Fussball Bund via German embassy

25 Getting started Identify specific regions in your country where interest enthusiasm for women s football is particularly high Exploit existing regional structures & resources from institutions e.g. school coordinators to be partnered with Record all relevant data and create data base Develop sound relations with the media

26 Getting started Utilize financial grant from FIFA as springboard Participate in continental and international competitions Appoint a full time national WF Co-coordinators Keep Objectives Simple, Realistic and Achievable

27 Thank You!!! Questions & Answers

28 Supporting Growth