The Western Region Football League is one of three regions to be involved in a new AFL Victorian female coaching academy.
The academy which was launched last week, is aimed at attracting more female coaches into community football.
The first edition of the female coaching academy is set to start in November this year and conclude in March 2024.
The program will be piloted in three regions including the WRFL, as well as Barwon and the South East.
The program is targeted to females between the ages of 15-20.
Participants will experience five practical workshops delivered by AFL Victoria coach developers in each region involved.
Upon completion of the tailored program, each participant will receive a foundation (level one) coach accreditation.
Following the workshops, coaches will be given the opportunity to transition into a community club coaching role and will receive a match day experience in the coaches box at an AFLW game.
Program costs will be covered by AFL Victoria.
The academy is built on modern coaching practices and will be tailored towards attracting women and girls who are currently playing or involved in the game, or other sports, but haven’t previously been involved in coaching Australian football.
AFL Victoria state coaching manager Jennifer Taffs said the program is part of AFL Victoria’s strategic aim of growing the female coaching talent pool in community football.
“Women and girls football has gone through a major transformation and growth phase since the inception of the AFLW competition in 2017, yet female coaching numbers haven’t kept pace with the growth of playing participation,” she said.
“The female coaching academy, which will be piloted in three regions at the end of 2023 and early next year ahead of the 2024 football season, has a very specific aim of developing more coaching talent and helping aspiring coaches progress into coaching roles in community football.”
