Women and Girls

Gemma Thomas is the new Women and Girls Football Development Officer at the East Riding County FA. She is originally from Norfolk, moving to the area to study Sports Science with Management at Hull University in 2005. She graduated with a BSc (Hons) in 2008. She played football for Kings Lynn Ladies in Norfolk for many years before joining the University team whilst studying. She has also played for the County Representative Squad on a number of occasions. Gemma currently coaches the Under 14 squad with Graham Turner at the Hull College Girls Centre of Excellence.

Women’s football is the fastest growing team sport in the world. In the UK there are currently 1.6million girls under 15 playing football of some form, 131,000 women playing in regular affiliated competitions and 1087 female officials. East Riding has a thriving Girls League with age’s ranging from under 10 to under 16 as well as a successful Women’s League.

As well as trying to increase the number of females playing football on a regular basis Gemma aims increase the number of females involved in the game at all levels from officiating and coaching to volunteering. She will also be looking to improve the opportunities for those with disabilities throughout the county.

There are ample opportunities for involvement throughout the county. Funding is available for those wishing to achieve refereeing and coaching qualifications and the Football Foundation offers a Small Grants Scheme for established clubs seeking to grow and develop. Volunteering opportunities are also available for young people through the Step into Sport Programme which Gemma will look to promote and develop.

Over the next few months the County FA will be holding a Female only Coaching Demonstration and a Women’s and Girls Development day as well as a number of festivals and tournaments for players of all abilities including a disability festival and a beach soccer tournament. The FA also runs the 3 Lions course which encourages the progression from school participation to club football from which talented girls can be selected to play for the Hull College Girls Centre of Excellence.

For further information on any aspects of women and girls or disability football please contact Gemma Thomas on 02075344310 or email gemma.thomas@eastridingfa.com.

Key Priorities for 2008-2009

• Enhance Junior Girls Recruitment
Establish a regular training programme for girls aged 7-8years to improve the transition to club involvement and increase participation at U10 level. Run taster sessions and festivals in schools and to generate interest and raise awareness.
• Identify clubs willing to establish an U10 team
Encourage existing clubs to establish U10 teams.
• Establish Women’s and Girls Focus Group
Organise a women’s and girls’ focus group consisting of various representatives with differing levels of involvement to address development issues and concerns.
• Identify areas of expansion within the league
• Organise a regional Women’s and Girls Development Day
Designed to improve participation by including coaching seminars, sports science information and support for existing coaches.
• Support Centre of Excellence
Develop closer links between leagues and the Centre of Excellence by ensuring adherence to the newly created Agreed Way of Working. Build trust by recognising and addressing areas of concern.
• Organise and Run a Winter Girls Futsal League
To include U10, U12, U14 and U16 teams.
• Promote and develop disability football
Introduce a county disability plan to establish school and community leagues and hold football festivals between Special Schools in the area. Provide coaching sessions to special schools and established clubs.
• Encourage clubs to become Charter Standard accredited.
Explain the benefits associated with such accreditation to encourage more clubs to work towards this whilst offering support and guidance to those who do.
• Hold EON FA Cup Day (2009)
For local clubs and teams, staffed by Junior Football Organisers (JFO’s).
• Organise and establish a secondary school futsal league
Design and implement a girl’s futsal league both within and between secondary schools.
• Funding Workshops
Deliver funding workshops to raise awareness of the funding available to clubs and how to apply for it.
• Look to establish a senior female futsal league
Investigate the possibility of establishing an ERCFA futsal league.
• Develop a female mentoring programme
Designed to actively recruit and support more female coaches through female only coaching demonstrations, female only coaching courses and opportunities to observe experienced coaches. Bursaries will also be offered for female only coaching courses.

Programmes

• Step into Sport
Designed to offer young people with volunteering and leadership opportunities in football with rewards for completed hours, reductions in coaching and refereeing course fees and an opportunity to attend a Regional Camp.
• Junior Football Organisers (JFO) Course
Course aimed at young people to introduce them to coaching and volunteering within football.
• FA Skill Programme
One day skills coaching camp delivered to young players.