Project to champion women in sports coaching, leadership

SPORTS Central is leading a new initiative to support, upskill, empower and boost the network of women in sports coaching and leadership in the Central Highlands area.

The Coaches and Leaders Circle project officially launched at Federation University’s Brewery Theatre on Monday evening.

It will aim to celebrate and boost the confidence and expertise of women in coaching, administration, mentoring or emerging leadership roles at local sporting clubs and associations, and help organisations attract and retain new leaders who may or may not come from a sports background.

Sports Central executive officer Michael Flynn said clubs are now invited to take part, and participants can expect to gain a network of like-minded women, and take part in practical leadership, confidence-building, and skill development workshops.

“We’re wanting to bring sports together and create a community to connect, learn and develop, and then we want to be able to do work with clubs and associations to be able to advocate for this group and break down some barriers to their involvement,” he said.

“Primarily, this is all about creating a platform for growth and development, and opportunities for an incredible untapped part of the community.

“We want to increase the size of the pool of potential coaches and leaders to take on roles so it isn’t just automatically a dad, for example, that coaches a team because he was a former player.

“We want to look into how we support a mum who potentially hasn’t played a sport to take on a role, or to step into a leadership role at a club.”

At the project launch, guest speakers Netball Victoria general manager of high performance and pathways and former Australian Diamonds netball captain Sharelle McMahon, Committee for Ballarat community leadership program lead and Rokewood Corindhap FNC life member Adele Nairn, and City of Ballarat recreation officer and Redan FNC netball coach Kate McMahon were in conversation moderated by ABC Ballarat’s Prue Bentley.

Attendees took part in a networking session following the forum.

Sharelle McMahon said a great sporting leader is one that can build connections with everyone.

“It’s about how you include people and bring them on the journey,” she said.

Sports Central will also be partnering with Moorabool Shire Council to hold Coaches and Leaders Circle events in Ballan and Bacchus Marsh later in the year.

“Sports Central is committed to promoting more pathways for women in our local sporting community in all aspects,” Sports Central chair Caroline Amirtharajah said.

“We want our next generation to be inspired when they see more women in leadership roles across our sporting community.”

The Coaches and Leaders Circle project will run for at least two years. Sign up at sportscentral.org.au/coaches-and-leaders-circle .