The FA announces launch of new women’s professional game cohort for coaches and managers

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Her Football Hub

·5 December 2024

The FA announces launch of new women’s professional game cohort for coaches and managers

The Football Association (FA) has announced the launch of its new women’s professional game cohort as part of its Coaching Excellence Initiative (CEI). This groundbreaking programme aims to provide a platform for emerging female coaches in the professional game. Significantly, the aim is to enhance their skills, knowledge, and career development opportunities at the highest levels of women’s football.

This newest initiative is an 18-month programme, led by coaching experts who can pass on their expansive knowledge. It’s designed to support coaches from the top three tiers of the women’s football pyramid. It will offer tailored development opportunities, 1:1 focused mentorship, and resources aligned with the FA’s commitment to increasing the representation of women in coaching roles across the country. Altogether, the initiative will focus on enhancing the management skills required to thrive in elite environments.

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Effectively, The FA’s long-term goal of giving female coaches greater opportunity to be represented at all levels includes the CEI. The FA’s new plan promises to ‘continue working to unlock the full potential of the women’s and girls game’. It prioritises teaching and tackling inequalities.

Key Features of the Women’s Professional Game Cohort:

Mentorship and Support: Each participant will be paired with an experienced mentor provided by the FA. They will offer personalised guidance, feedback, and support throughout the programme.
Networking Opportunities: Participants will have access to a network of top-tier coaches, players, and industry leaders, fostering connections and career-building opportunities.
Coaching Community: During the programme, the participants will meet as a full cohort eight times. They will participate in online classes, and travel to other high-performance areas.

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Who is involved in the FA women’s professional game cohort?

Mark Swales, Senior Women’s Coach Development Lead at The FA said: “The Coaching Excellence Initiative was formed in 2019 to support the growth of the women’s game, and this is now our third cohort. The aim for this group is to support our talented coaches that are working across the Barclays WSL, Barclays Women’s Championship, FAWNL and Professional Game Academies and provide opportunities for them to grow within theircurrent environments as leaders, ultimately helping them move forward to support their clubs in the growth of the women’s game.”

This year’s CEI group consists of Remi Allen (Southampton), Carly Davies (Nottingham Forest), Amanda Goodwin (Manchester United), Sinead Hogan-Belcher (London City Lionesses), Stephen Kirby (Bristol City), Becky Langley (Newcastle United), Jo Potter (Glasgow Rangers), Rebecca Sawiuk (Burnley), Joe Sheehan (Ipswich), Jenny Sugarman (Leicester), Ash Thompson (Sheffield United), and Amber Whiteley (Liverpool). The group represents clubs from all over the nation and the pyramid from the FA Women’s National League to the Barclays Women’s Super League.

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The FA’s Coaching Excellence Initiative is part of its broader strategy to elevate the standard of women’s football in England. As a result, it aims to foster a more inclusive and supportive environment across all areas of the game. This cohort will play an integral role in The FA’s vision to strengthen the women’s football system. Furthermore, it ensures female coaches are given the tools and opportunities to succeed at the highest levels.

Southampton head coach Remi Allen said: “The CEI for me is a wonderful opportunity to connect with people in the same position as myself. To work with skilled individuals and learn from them to develop our leadership skills. I want to keep evolving as a person and acoach and this programme gives me a great opportunity to do that.”