Meet shropshire fa equal game ambassador - womens and girls football

We are delighted to confirm we have now appointed an Equal Game Ambassador at Shropshire FA. This role will support clubs to create female playing pathways to encourage more female players to play our beautiful game.

One of The FA’s ‘game-changer’ objectives from the 2020-24 Grassroots Football Strategy is to ensure that girls have equal access to football, in both schools and clubs. The 2022/23 season will see the recruitment of a team of Equal Game Ambassadors to provide England Football Accredited football clubs with off-field support in creating, maintaining and developing their female offer to ensure there are inclusive, safe and accessible opportunities available for all girls.

This role is aligned to the introduction of the new ‘Equal Game’ training programme which is designed to upskill club volunteers to be motivated, knowledgeable, confident and capable to develop more club-based opportunities for women and girls to play, coach, volunteer and/or spectate.

If you are interested in finding out more about this training and want to register your interest to create new or more female football at your club, you can find the new toolkit, resources and expression of interest form here: https://www.englandfootball.com/femalefootballatyourclub

The key objective of the ambassador role is to support grassroots football clubs to apply their learnings from the Equal Game Training and build their own Equal Game Action Plan, creating more accessible opportunities for women and girls.

The key FA values that this role encompasses:

• INCLUSIVE – Champions and ensures that football is, and will remain, a game for everyone

• INSPIRING – Motivating of others and aiming to achieve excellence possible

• INNOVATIVE – Embraces new thinking in pursuit of continuous improvement

• TRANSPARENT – Openly and honestly convey information to all

• TRUSTED – Sets the standards across the game

meet lisa jackson - equal game ambassador

Name: Lisa Jackson

Football Role: U13 Coach at Market Drayton Tigers FC

How long have you been involved in the sport and what inspired you to become involved?: I have been involved in Grassroots Football as a coach for 6 years. I became involved as someone was needed to take on my sons team. My husband was already involved at the club and I thought if you can't beat them join them and I haven't looked back since.

What do you love most about football?: I love seeing children develop in their footballing journey no matter how little or big an achievement is.

Name 3 challenges you have experienced within football: 

1. I am not so bad now but I certainly used to worry too much that I was doing things wrong! I used to question myself so much but I have learnt as the years have gone on that I should believe in my own ability.

2. Doing my Level 2 (New UEFA C) was a huge challenge.  I had a few sarcastic comments from some fellow coaches when I told them I had applied to do it  and again I nearly talked myself out of it but I persevered and so glad I did.  I learnt so much but that was a turning point where I realised "I can do this".

3. It's sometimes a challenge to manage player expectations - they all want different outcomes at times and its learning how to manage these and make sure everyone gets out of the session/match what they want/need.  Its something I have certainly got much better with.

Why did you apply for the Equal Game Ambassador role?: I applied for the role because I am really passionate that everybody should have equal access to football. Being a female coach in a very male dominated environment I understand the challenges that are sometimes faced and felt I could offer some experience to the role.

What do you hope to achieve with clubs through this role?: I hope to build up a good relationship with clubs regarding this role and give them the guidance and training to help them to develop their girls and women's game. The training I have recently undertaken with this role was very exciting and I feel I have been given good tools and knowledge to help clubs achieve their vision for the future girls and women's game.