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WOMEN IN FOOTBALL

Canadian Journal for Women in Coaching
Women in Football
Maritime Women's Football League
OFSAA Women's Sport School Tradeshow
Women in Coaching Session

SAINT JOHN CAPTURES MARITIME WOMEN’S FOOTBALL LEAGUE TITLE WITH WIN OVER MONCTON

July 21, 2008 – Saint John Storm topped the Moncton Vipers 24 – 14 in Halifax to win the Judy Upward Trophy as the Maritime Women’s League Champions.

For more information visit: www.footballnewbrunswick.nb.ca/

MANITOBA FEARLESS TAKE ROAD TRIP TO ALBERTA

The Manitoba Fearless travelled to Edmonton, this past July to participate in an all female tackle football tournament. The Manitoba team consisted of 31 women and six coaches.

The Fearless beat Edmonton 13 – 6 in game one and Calgary 27 – 0 in game 2 before succumbing to an Alberta all star team 8 – 7.

This tournament was a first of its kind in Western Canada and there are plans to hold a similar tournament next year with more teams as female tackle football continues to grow. For more information concerning the Manitoba Fearless contact Tannis Wilson at tannisw@mts.net.

Canadian Journal for Women in Coaching

Shifting the Culture: Implications for Female Coaches - October 2007 Feature

Building on the Journal’s ongoing dialogue about the status of women coaches in Canadian sport is an article that not only nicely dissects the current situation but draws compelling parallels with other sectors in society, parallels that are too often overlooked in our absorption with our own troubling state.

Where the authors, Dr. Gretchen Kerr of the University of Toronto and Dr. Dru Marshall of the University of Alberta, go on to break new ground is in their recommendations. Their proposition is that increasing the number of women in coaching depends upon shifting the very culture of sport. They call for an end to “superimposing a culture developed by men onto women’s sport” as well as “… a broader and more diverse cultural ideology … a re-examination of the goals and values of sport … and a shift from the ethic of competition and domination to an ethic of care”, which they go on to describe in detail, building a compelling case for change.

http://www.coach.ca/WOMEN/e/journal/index.htm

Developing Female Leadership in the Canadian Sport System: Recommendations for High-Level Sport Organizations-July 2007 Feature

Few would disagree with the contention that women’s leadership differs from that of men. Difference, of course, does not imply inferiority. Difference can be, and often is, positive. But because there are precious few examples of women leaders within the context of Canadian sport, there is, consequently, little opportunity to put women’s leadership to the test. Yes, of course, there are some exemplary role models. But a close examination of the administration, boards of directors, and committees of sport organizations reveals a lingering leadership imbalance, particularly when one factors in the recent outstanding, dominating performances of Canada’s women athletes and coaches on that great testing ground, the world stage.

http://www.coach.ca/WOMEN/e/journal/july2007/index.htm

Women in Football

The Women in Football Portfolio is being created to identify the various development areas that require focus in order to increase female participation in football across Canada at all levels- as athletes, coaches, officials, and volunteers.

NATIONAL WOMEN'S CONFERENCE
February, 2006 - Ottawa, ON -The gathering of female participants from across the country for the National Women's Conference was the first opportunity for female participants around the country to gather and share their opinions and ideas.

Mr. Barry Gunther, President of Football Canada, was there to welcome all the participants at the national forum, and on behalf of the Board of Directors expressed his excitement about the contribution of the participants to the development of Women's Football across Canada.

Some of the agenda items that were widely discussed include:

Barriers to women in football within Canada
Strength of programs and resources within Provinces
Coaching Development
Player Development (including elite level)
Officials' Development
Championships
Capacity

Following two full days of discussions, the group identified the main concerns and a list of recommendations in the form of a strategic action plan that needed to be addressed by Football Canada and its Board of Directors.

We'd like to thank all the participants for their commitment, especially in light of the difficulties in travelling in the severe weather conditions, which postponed the conference for one day.

Maritime Women's Football League

(courtesey of Moncton Times and Transcript)

Capital Area ‘Curves’ Lady Gladiators of Fredericton win Maritime Women's Football League SupHer Bowl championship in dramatic fashion.

August 12th Rocky Stone Field in Moncton, NB played host to the Moncton Vipers and the Capital Area ‘Curves’ Lady Gladiators for the 2007 Maritime Women’s Football League Championship.

The Moncton Vipers entered the 4th quarter with a 14-0 lead; with three seconds remaining the Capital Area tied the game they were able to take the lead with a one point conversion pass winning the game 15-14. This is the second year the Capital Area win’s the Championship and the second time in three years that the Vipers have lost the league Championship game.

The Maritime Women’s Football League features four teams and starts their season in early June. For more information on this story or on the Maritime Women’s Football League please visit the Maritimes Women’s Football League home page.

Courtesy of Canadaeast News Service
Published Monday August 13th, 2007

Maritime Womens Football

Moncton Vipers Ladies Football Team vs. Halifax Xplosion
July 22, 2006

In 2004 the then, Capital Area Minor Football Association president, Terry McIntyre started the ball rolling towards developing the New Brunswick Women’s Football league. That year, the league consisted of only two teams. The Lady Gladiators coached by Terry himself and the Saint John team then called the Simonds Seagals coached by Larry Harlow. In 2005 the season started off with 4 teams, with the addition of the Moncton Vipers and another team form St. John.

Unfortunately low numbers and early injuries plagued both St. John teams forcing them to amalgamate and the bulk of the season was played with 3 teams.

In 2006, Halifax, Nova Scotia, came on board bringing the numbers back to four. This also caused a name change from the NBWFL to the Maritime Women’s Football League.

With many obstacles to overcome the growth of the league was slow and at times discouraging. New teams needed enough money to buy all new equipment, or share with teams not using theirs. Also recruitment of new players has been a challenge. Many of the new recruits have never played before, or for that matter never watched a game. The league now has implemented a development process so that the girls come up through a system.

Another challenge is the use of fields since women’s teams are not on a priority list.

In the first year, for safety reasons, strict rules were applied concerning blitzing. But those rules are slowly being amended more to the mainstream as the level of play increases.

There is a sense of pride as the league continues to grow and develop and more importantly that it gives the opportunity for girls to play tackle football.

Source: Karla Roberts, Commissioner, MWFL

OFSAA Women's Sport School Tradeshow

The 2007 OFSAA Coaching Symposium was held May 3-4, 2007 at Brock University. The conference focused on the technical side of coaching to provide sport specific skills, drills and strategies through on-field and classroom sessions. The program had introductory and advanced sessions to benefit both new and seasoned Coaches.

Rick Sowieta facilitated an Advanced Coaches Clinic for Tackle coaches on Thursday, May 3rd. Cara Lynch facilitated a Novice Coaches Clinic for Flag on Friday, May 4th. Both clinics were well attended, reaching classroom capacity.

Football Canada also sponsored a table at the tradeshow in which Tackle, Touch and Flag football information was available. It was great to have the opportunity to show equipment and video of specialized football such as 6 A Side Tackle and Flag for people with disabilities.

May 11th, 2006 – Football Canada recently participated in the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Association Women’s Sport School Tradeshow held in Kingston, Ontario.

Trade Show Table Football Canada’s Youth Flag Football Initiative was the theme of the trade show booth featuring Flag Football brochures, kits, manuals and a showing of the recent Youth Flag Football DVD.

The professional development event brought together teacher – coaches from across the province to share ideas. The tradeshow encompassed a wide variety of elements for both curricular and co-curricular programs that were geared to High School and Elementary School teachers. The aim of the Women’s Sport School tradeshow was to increase participant’s knowledge in several areas of school sport and expose teachers to new/unconventional sports, teaching methods as well as provide opportunities for discussion.

Many thanks to Jennifer Bennett, Assistant Director OFSAA for all of her help.

Women in Coaching Session

April 27th, 2006 – Ottawa, ON – Representatives from Football Canada attended a Women in Coaching Session at the University of Ottawa Sports Complex.

Sponsored by Coaches Ontario, “Women in Coaching – Connecting the Dots” is the theme of these sessions which brings female coaches from the community together. In each of the sessions held across the province, a top female coach facilitated an informal session on experiences, opportunities and resources available to women coaches.

We would like to thank Shelley Coolidge, Head Coach of the University of Ottawa Women’s Hockey Team, for leading a great discussion.