Football Australia has announced that CommBank Junior Matildas Assistant Coach and Analyst – and newly appointed Western Sydney Wanderers Head Coach Kat Smith – has been named as one of 20 female coaches to be accepted into the second edition of the FIFA Coach Mentorship Programme.
The program will see 20 female coaches from across the globe mentored by some of the leading figures in coaching, including Australians Tom Sermanni and Joe Montemurro.
Smith, who has been paired with Athletic Bilbao Women’s head coach, Iraia Iturregi, is thrilled to be presented with further opportunities to continue her development in her chosen profession.
“I am incredibly honoured and grateful to have this opportunity and am appreciative of the support of Football Australia, who championed my application to be a part of the programme,” Smith said in a statement.
“It pays homage to those that have backed me in the past and opportunities I’ve had because of their belief. I am extremely excited about the possibility of continuing my coaching journey and fortunate to expand my expertise and experiences through accessing a global network.”
An AFC Pro-Licenced coach, Smith’s involvement in the game spans 20 years, with the now Western Sydney Wanderers head coach having been involved at all levels of women’s football.
Her football career has seen her hold positions as a Skills Acquisition Trainer, National Premier Leagues Technical Director (Green Gully FC), a Team Manager, NPL Head Coach (Galaxy United and Alamein FC), Liberty A-League Women’s Assistant Coach (Melbourne Victory), Australian Opposition Analyst for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup and CommBank Junior Matildas Assistant Coach and Performance Analyst.
With extensive experience already in varied positions, Smith is hoping that the Programme adds to her understanding of her profession for the betterment of the players she coaches.
“This opportunity, I’m hoping, brings a wealth of experience and knowledge from across the globe to open my mind to new ways of doing and thinking in the game. With the high calibre of Mentors, it will provide challenges that lead to growth and harness courage,” she added.
“I want to explore how that knowledge can be brought back to platforms and programs here in Australia that help shape further growth initiatives in our game and allow us to better equip the next generation of athletes for the world stage.
“On a personal level, this Programme allows for that individual and professional development to happen on the job, and that’s what you want. With this set-up, you can apply new learnings and new skills and continue to develop your craft so you are having the most positive impact you can on the game.”
