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FA Elite Coach and WiF member Lois Fidler, joined around 100 female coaches from five countries at Surrey Sports Park for the World's First Coaching Conference For Female Coaches of All Sports, All Levels and All Nationalities. The event was created and delivered by the Female Coaching Network, and supported by Project 500.

The event kicked off with a presentation by Olympic Gold Medal winning Assistant GB Hockey Coach Karen Brown, and a packed day included two invaluable workshops held by graduate Sports Therapist Aimee Knight, who works with Sky Bet League Two side Blackpool.

One of the many highlights was a rousing contribution from coach Lois, part of an elite group of women in the world to hold a UEFA Pro Licence football qualification and currently the Girls Technical Director at Southampton Football Club

Delivering a fascinating insight into her coaching career, Lois spoke openly and honestly about all the challenges she has faced in being one of only six women to have achieved the top football coaching qualification UEFA Pro Licence.  

She said: “To see so many female coaches at every level, across so many sports in one place was uplifting.

“Coming together in this way presented a great opportunity to establish where we are at, what we need, and how as a network of like minded individuals we can move forward, together.”

The day ended with a panel discussion and five coaches who have been involved with Project 500, Wendy Russell (Hockey), Sarah Rutherford (Tennis), Debbie Peatland (Cycling), Caroline Drake (Football) and Sue Benson (Cricket), each shared their experiences of working and volunteering in a range of different sports.

To continue the development and progression of all that was delivered on the day, the Female Coaching Network (FCN) are hosting a series of webinars to enable attendees to delve further into the topics addressed at the conference and keep the momentum going with the connection between all who attended.

Webinars will also be open to female coaches who did not attend and the calendar of events will be published in the coming few days on the FCN website here.

The Female Coaching Network is the Leading Global Community of Female Coaches who Support, Drive and Influence Real Change in Sports Diversity. Their Coaching Conference further adds to their aim to connect, share and develop female coaches from around the world to raise the profile of, the standard of and the opportunities for women who coach.

Please visit the website here for more information.

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