Premiership Coach a Female Trail BlazerWednesday, July 19, 2023 - 11:47 AM

Recently crowned WAFLW Premiership coach Steph Walding has discussed the importance of a pathway for emerging coaches in the game.

Walding, the only female Head Coach in the WAFLW, led East Fremantle to Grand Final glory against Claremont in Saturday’s decider at Mineral Resources Park.

“It's vital that we get more diversity in coaching roles across football in WA,” Walding said.

“We've seen the growth of female participation across Australia, so we now need to provide positive role models for these players to create a pathway in the sport once they finish playing.  

 Walding isn’t just advocating more female involvement, she also provides her expertise as part of the She Can Coach Program.

“I delivered a module on session planning, drill development and skill acquisition,” she said.  

“Being able to connect with other female coaches really takes me back to when I was first starting out as a coach and the landscape was 99% male coaches.

“I had no-one to look up to and take inspiration from.

“If I can help show other female coaches that there is a pathway, that they’re on the right track and offer my support in any way then I've done my job.

“Women think and learn differently to men, so to have someone like me who can see things through the same lens as them or to explain something in another way to what they've experienced elsewhere is vital,” she said.

 Walding, in her first season as senior coach of East Fremantle in the WAFLW, guided the Sharks to a 12-point win over Claremont in last weekend’s Grand Final.

“While I never set out to be that inspiration or spark, I do hope that it shows other women and girls out there that they too can lead a team.

“Even more so I hope that it shows clubs that they need to invest in their female coaches and female programs. 

“That’s a major barrier for women because they need to feel included and supported in the environment they're in and if that support is provided then they’ll thrive as a coach. 

“I'm extremely proud to finish the season as the WAFLW Premiership Coach as the only female senior coach in the league, and to do it with 75% of our WAFLW and Rogers Cup coaches being female.”

The conclusion of the WAFLW season coincides with the WA football community coming together this month for the third annual Women’s Coaching Month, presented by BHP.

Prominent WA female coaches from AFLW and Community clubs are joining industry experts at the 2023 Women’s Coaching Webinar.

Participants are able to access a range of community resources for clubs and coaches to provide inclusive environments for women and girls as coaches and players.

There are 140 female coaches in community football across WA, representing nearly 10% of overall coaching numbers in the state.

The AFLW Womens and Girls Action Plan is aiming to hit 40% of female representation in the junior coaching space by 2025.

For more information on Women's Coaching Month or how to start your coaching journey head to - https://www.play.afl/coach