June 25 – FIFA has launched a scholarship programme for female coaches in a bid to boost the number of A licenced coaches.
The first group of 10 coaches are already enrolled and include Amelia Valverde (pictured), head coach of the Costa Rican national team that competed in this year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup finals in Canada, and Katie Rowson, Technical Director of the British Virgin Islands Football Association (one of the few female technical directors at a national association).
The FIFA Women’s Football Survey 2014 found that the number of female coaches in football is low, with only 7% of registered coaches from the 177 member associations surveyed being female. The survey also found that the associations that have enjoyed success in women’s football have a higher level of participation of women at different coaching levels.
The FIFA Scholarship for B-Licensed Female Coaches gives them access to higher coaching education and is one of nine FIFA women’s football development programmes on offer for 2015-2018 and is run in cooperation with a number of member associations through their coach education programmes.
“We recognise the challenges that many countries face in trying to increase the number of highly qualified female coaches at the elite level,” said Mayi Cruz Blanco, FIFA Senior Women’s Football Development Manager. “FIFA has launched this programme with that in mind, and we are sure it will have a positive impact with a view to enabling female coaches to lead teams at the highest level.”
FIFA funding support may include course fees, accommodation and/or travel. FIFA stipulates that benefiting member associations must commit to supporting the coach after she has finished the programme.
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