When it comes to championing Fair Access the Maribyrnong Swifts are ensuring that the whole club has equal opportunities both on and off the pitch.
When it comes to championing Fair Access, the Maribyrnong Swifts are taking an all-of-club approach.
The local soccer club in the heart of Melbourne’s inner west is creating an environment for girls and gender diverse people to get involved in soccer in all its forms.
For the Swifts, it’s about ensuring that women and girls get an equal opportunity to pursue their sporting ventures both on and off the field whether it be through coaching, refereeing or becoming an administrator.
Coach at the Swifts, Anne Rossi, highlighted the importance of being given the opportunity to spread her wings.
‘My coaching journey began when my daughter started playing soccer and there was no coach available to coach her team.’
‘Instead of the club going to a dad, which typically happens they approached me and asked me to coach the team.’
With women playing and coaching the focus turned to referees and that’s where up and coming referee Holly Tomlinson jumped in.
We’ve only ever had males as referees and maybe one female ref.It was good to have the encouragement to become a ref and to show young girls that having female refs was the norm and it wasn’t just all males.Holly Tomlinson
The Swifts are making further advancements when it comes to gender equality within the sporting space, with women making up 75% of the club’s executive board.
And although the club is run predominantly by women, Swifts’ President Karen Cook, noted the importance of having male allies to help with the continued success of the club.
‘We know when volunteering stops, the football stops, and we want to share the load,’ she said.
The club is continuing to ensure that women and girls get access to facilities and that they’re building the capabilities of everyone involved.
View video transcript
Young girl:
What I love about football is having fun and spending time with my friends.
Vision: View of young people playing football and training.
Text: Fair access in Maribyrnong.
Karen Cook, Club President, Maribyrnong Swifts Football Club
My name’s Karen Cook and I’m the President of the Maribyrnong Swifts Football Club.
Vision: View of young people playing football and training.
Karen Cook: We’re an all-female and gender-diverse club based in the inner west of Melbourne.
Vision: View of young people training.
Karen Cook: Our Executive Board is made up of 75% women and that’s about the same proportion for the rest of our committee as well.
Vision: View of male volunteer coaching young football players.
Karen Cook: And while our club is mostly run by women we do rely on the fathers and the male allies to also pitch in and volunteer because we know when volunteering stops the football stops, and we want to share the load.
Vision: View of young people training and playing football.
Karen Cook: So our vision at the Swifts is for all women, girls and gender-diverse people to be healthy, active and empowered through football, so we’re creating pathways and making opportunities for our women and girls to get qualified as referees and coaches.
Vision: View of female coach training the young players.
Anne Rossi, Coach, Maribyrnong Swifts FC
My coaching journey actually began when my daughter started playing soccer and there was no coach available to coach her team.
Vision: View of young people training and playing football.
Anne Rossi: Instead of the club actually going to a dad, which typically happens, they actually approached me and asked me to coach the team.
Vision: View of young people training and playing football.
Anne Rossi: Having a daughter, being able to show her that, you know, sport isn’t just playing all the time. I’m a role model to her and her friends. Potentially in the future they may not be playing the sport but could still be involved by being a coach or being a ref or being involved in the administration of the club.
Vision: Close-up view of a soccer ball and young players training.
Holly Tomlinson, Junior Referee, Maribyrnong Swifts FC
The advice I would give to other girls becoming referees is to find a friend to do it with and to have fun with it and to stay confident in your decisions, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes and ask people for help.
Vision: View of young players training to play football.
Holly Tomlinson: We’ve only ever had male referees, and maybe only one female ref, and it was good to have the encouragement to become refs and to show them girls that having female refs was a norm and it wasn’t just all males.
Vision: View of young players training.
Karen Cook: Fair access means not just having players that are involved in the sport but all aspects of sport and participation. So that could be women as referees, coaches, sports administrators, leaders and drivers of change.
Vision: Close-up view of a coaching mannequin. View of young players training.
Text:Find out more about Fair Access at: changeourgame.vic.gov.au. Change our Game. VicHealth. Victoria State Government.
Text: Authorised by Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place Melbourne.
Page last updated: 29 November 2024
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