BY JOE TROLAN
NOVEMBER 30, 2015
Ladies football is becoming just as popular as the men’s
game both in Ireland and outside. The game is popular for
social reasons such as fun and excitement, making friends,
and keeping fit but also because of limited opportunities for
women to compete in amateur team sports at a high level.
The Ladies Gaelic Football Association (LGFA) has made tremendous strides in successfully promoting the games at all
levels but one area that is off great concern is the lack of female coaches especially at the senior county level.
MENTORING
WHY SO FEW?
NETWORK
A quick examination of the senior county teams in Ireland
highlights that the ranks of coaches are filled with men and
this trickles down to the grassroots levels. For those involved
in the LGFA and in coaching this is a concern that should
highlighted – why are so few women in coaching positions
and what can we do to improve the opportunity??
Certainly, to fully answer those questions would take longer
than this article but I will highlight a few strategies that present coaches in ladies football can use to help encourage an
increase of women in coaching roles.
Third, help create a network for female coaches. One of the
reasons why there are many male coaches within the LGFA is
because of the “coaching network.” Likewise, we should encourage new female coaches to help build their own network
where again they can discuss on the field and off the field issues concerning female coaches.
VOLUNTEERING
For those coaching ladies GAA (men or women), one of the
first methods is to get players to help volunteer with teams
(and to do so energetically). Coaches should recruit former
female players (or those still playing) to be assistant coaches
at underage levels and give them responsibilities that can help
educate them to become head coaches in the future. Moreover, these assistant coaches should embrace the position with
assertion, lots of energy, and showcase their value. By taking
on responsibilities at the underage level, female coaches can
learn the necessary steps and experience that is needed to
progress.
Secondly, it is important that coaches become mentors to
young female coaches to help them understand the “language”
of coaching and to encourage them to become qualified. Being
a mentor to a new female coach can give support in a field that
continues to be male dominated. By being a sounding board
for new coaches, you can help with any problems or concerns
that they may encounter with fans, colleagues or players.
ROLE MODEL
One strategy of course does not fit everyone and people take
many different roads to their final destination. As a coach,
you can help make those roads a little easier to travel. Being
a mentor or role model can encourage young female players
to consider the idea of coaching after their playing career. Encouraging and promoting a network of female coaches, gives
those coaches a place where there can debate the best ways to
further their coaching philosophies or ideas. Finally and importantly, encouraging new female coaches gives the younger
generation of LGFA players a positive role model and someone
that they can aspire to be in the future and t \