Football Tasmania launches Coaching for Women Scholarship program

Avatar

Football Tasmania has announced the launch of their Coaching for Women Scholarship program, an initiative which reaffirms the state’s recent focus on female participation within the sport. The program is an important step towards growing participation across all areas of the game for women and girls.

The Scholarship aims to address the lack of female representation within the state and wider country’s coaching ranks, with women from clubs and associations with states encouraged to reach out and apply.

At least five female coaches will be provided with Scholarships and the subsequent opportunity to complete the Football Australia ‘C’ Licence course. This will consist of at least one participant from each region – North West, Northern Tasmania and Southern Tasmania.

Each Scholarship includes a $1,200 contribution towards the course fee for the FA ‘C’ Licence course. Additionally, successful applications will have their attendance to the 2021/22 coaches conference included in the Scholarship.

Going forward, coaches will receive continuous support from Football Tasmania’s Coach Development Manager, David Smith, and Female Development Officer, Debra Banks. The successful Applicants will be required to complete the Scholarship within 18 months and attend the 2021/22 Football Tasmania State Coaching Conference.

Furthermore, an opportunity will be potentially offered to participants of the Scholarship program to travel interstate as an assistant coach at the Girls National Youth Championship in 2022.

Plans to increase participation across all areas of football are what is driving the initiative behind Football Tasmania’s Women’s Scholarship program.

The state’s governing footballing body is seeking to increase female participation to at least 30% total, whilst raising the number of active coaches and referees with accreditation by 15%.

With this program, Football Tasmania have recognised the significance of the raising awareness of and strengthening of the pathways for players, coaches and referees. As a result, strong and effective relationships with clubs can be better maintained in order to deliver tangible value for all stakeholders. Moreover, initiatives that subsequently recognise and reward achievements and successes in the game at all levels can champion the game for the state as a whole.

For those interested, the application form can be accessed here.

Football Victoria encourages state teams to take part in Governance Workshop Series

Avatar
Image credit: NakoPhotography / Shutterstock.com

Football Victoria are endorsing the joint partnership between the Victorian Government and VicSport, as football clubs across the state can become involved within the participation of case studies – dedicated to the understanding and importance of governance within sport.

Three workshops will eventuate over the course of May, June and July. Industry experts, sport directors and operating officials will all be in attendance at each workshop, discussing their insight upon the plethora of information they possess in correlation to Board Policy & Procedure (completed April 3), Risk Management (TBC in May), Sports Integrity (June 6) and Diversity & Inclusion (TBC in July).

VicSport are a Victorian non-for-profit organisation dedicated to attract as many Victorians as possible in participation and engagement across a variety of sports and/or physical activity.

Working in conjunction with the Victorian Government, it is their duty to ensure that recreation within the state remains at its optimal level.

Advocating, assisting and supporting its members since its inception in 1994, their extensive network branched out to over 3.9 million participants.

Football within Victoria has quite the pulse. Engagement levels are high within the amount of participants across all abilities and genders.

Knowing the importance of governance is fundamental for emerging and present clubs, hence the importance surrounding the FV in urging club officials in attending these various workshops.

Football Victoria have made continuous strides in becoming more accessible and engaging to potential participants. All-abilities April is a symbol of the inclusivity in which the state has made across the last decade.

Governance within sport is crucial. It covers a magnitude of aspects all required to be considered when operating an entity. Given the vast amount of contributors governance is essential for the promotion of accountability, sustainability and stability for a football club.

The success garnered on the park must be achieved off of it through a harmonious collective.

For up-to-date information, you can view it via VicSport here.

Eli Babalj on retirement transition and life after football

Avatar
Image supplied by Professional Footballers Australia

Similar to all life cycles, a footballers career commences and concludes.

However, athletes are often uncertain about the precise timing of the conclusion of their career and the events that might lead to retirement.

Babalj’s retirement occurred at the age of 30 due to a career marred by recurring injuries, prompting him to exit professional football. After enduring a 12-year career plagued by setbacks, Babalj was already contemplating his next steps as he transitioned into life after playing.

After finishing his studies, Babalj swiftly obtained employment following his retirement.

In his final year at the highest level, Babalj was involved for the Newcastle Jets during the 2021-2022 A-League Men Season, now he continues his footballing journey with the same club, serving as their Football Operations Manager and assistant coach for their senior men’s teams.

Not every individual has the privilege of such opportunities, some struggles exist in securing employment after their football careers, while others simply find themselves not knowing what to do.

However, Babalj had been contemplating his next phase for some time, and with assistance from Professional Footballers Australia (PFA), he started to map out the path of his future beyond his playing career.

“There were a couple of situations throughout my career where I thought, will I get another contract or will I be given another chance and it made you think: ‘okay, what’s next?,’ he told the PFA.

“That’s where the PFA was great, the Player Development Managers helped push you into and guide you and gave you suggestions and advice about what you can do.

“I was lucky enough to do a post grad in Football Business and I carried on to do a Masters in Sports Management which helped me get this gig in the first place.

“I had started my coaching badges while I was playing. It’s very important, I hope the PFA continue to do that work because when I was 18 and they’d come in, I used to think ‘oh, don’t worry about that, I’ll worry about that when I’m 30.’

“But l wish I had started it earlier, because in your down time you can actually switch off and learn, and get qualifications instead of overthinking because you have a lot of down time as a player.

“I’m glad l ended up doing it, l still ended up finishing it on time, it’s never too late or never too early to start.”

Upon assuming his new position, many of Babalj’s former teammates became individuals he now oversaw in his role in football operations, furthermore, they were the players to whom he imparted instructions on the pitch.

“You want to earn the respect of your peers because of your new role, not because of who you were as a player so I just tried to have good rapport with everyone and help in any way I can,” he said to the PFA.

“The transition was made easier because it kept you busy because a lot of players once they retire, they have a lot of spare time and when you have a lot of spare time, it’s a lot of thinking and overthinking and that’s not good.

Indeed, Babalj’s performance with Melbourne Heart and his subsequent move abroad earned him a call-up for the Socceroos, he debuted in a friendly match against South Korea and later scored two goals against Guam during the 2013 East Asian Cup.

Sadly, the common theme of Babalj’s playing career was struggling to maintain consistent playing time, nonetheless, he aims to embark on a new chapter where he can exert a greater influence in football beyond the field.

“When l was presented that role with football ops, it coincided with doing my Masters in Sports Management and then former Jets Head Coach, Arthur Papas, was happy enough for me to help out on a coaching side, which helped me decide which direction I wanted to go long term and gave me something to think about,” he said to the PFA.

Babalj harbours significant aspirations for the direction he wants to steer his coaching career, intending to pursue further studies overseas.

“Keep getting the experience and learning, you have to finish off all the licences first. I always wanted to do the UEFA ones, I started all the AFC ones through FA and the PFA but as you see many other coaches from Australia, when they want to go overseas they have obstacles,” he said to the PFA.

Babalj’s career should be a guide for local players in the country thinking about their post-football careers and the importance of laying the groundwork for getting ready in the necessary occupation they may have, whether it’s in football or elsewhere.

Most Popular Topics

Editor Picks

Send this to a friend