MAs' roles in women's football

Improving the technical development for the women’s game, increasing national and zonal competitions and developing grassroots and youth programmes for girls were some of the areas of contribution by MAs discussed by the working groups.

The 80 participants in the conference were broken into three groups to discuss the issues and matters related to women’s football in the continent.

The results of the discussion were presented in a podium session by group leaders Betty Wong Yeuk Ling (Hong Kong), Kanya Keomany (Laos) and Cheri Jo Stewart (Guam), and the group reporters, Kim Sein (Korea Republic), Mohamad Roslan (Singapore) and Olivia Gamage (Sri Lanka). Colette Wong moderated the session.

To bring about improvement in the technical development of women’s football in the MAs, the groups suggested the following action steps:

• Employ full-time female technical development officers.
• Improve the quality o coaches.
• Appoint a Technical Director for women’s football.
• Attend international conferences.
• Share knowledge and experience with other MAs.
• Dedicated budget for girls’/women’s football.
• Action plans/best practices in the use of technology and other methods.
• Implementation of grassroots development plans for girls.
• Retention of former players for grassroots programmes.

The working groups also felt that MAs can do a number of things to develop national and zonal competitions, such as follows:

• Increase participation.
• Formalise the national football calendar.
• Promotion through the media.
• Market the product to the private sector.
• Teach-the-teachers programmes for coaches and referees.
• Cooperation with government agencies.
• Grassroots and youth competitions.
• Monitor players’ development.
• Special programme for goalkeepers.
• Coordinated annual competition plan.
• MAs’ obligation to participate in national competitions.
• Special coaching development programmes for youth football.
• Identification of talented female coaches for further education.
• Improve the quality and number of competitions.
• Female referee education programmes.

Grassroots and youth development programmes for girls is also an important area that MAs need to play a role in and the working groups suggested the following actions:

-- Promotion of regional grassroots festivals.
-- Cooperation with the government for grassroots and school football.
-- Pre and post promotion of grassroots and youth football activities.
-- Selection of quality and dedicated people for grassroots.
-- Involvement of parents.
-- Change of mindset of MA leaders.
-- Raise awareness of MA leaders for grassroots programmes through FIFA/AFC seminars.
-- Exchange programmes between MAs (for best practices).
-- Raise awareness of grassroots though FIFA programmes.
-- Education of local grassroots instructors.