FREMANTLE CITY FC AND
Women in Sport panel brought a group of women and girls as young as seven and 50+ from clubs throughout WA, to talk about being a woman in the game: the pathway, overcoming mental struggles, and building trust with each other.
Empowering women and girls to lead
At Fremantle City FC, we believe that the game of football extends far beyond the field. It’s about empowerment, leadership, and growth—in football and in life. As the largest club for women and girls in Western Australia, we’re committed to supporting the mental wellbeing of our players.
Through Gaining Ground WA’s mentorship program, we link girls 12-14 years old with senior women players at the club, so they have role models to lean on and look up to from the April to September season. This support is retaining players at an age when girls drop out of sports at twice the rate of boys.
Senior women players attend trainings and games to support skill development and build confidence through encouraging and positive communication. The program has increased girls’ confidence, encouraged young players to become coaches, and engaged influential women in leadership to run workshops:
- Girls have role models and pathways they can see at their club
- Girls’ anxiety levels at training and games have decreased and coaches have reported a huge increase in endorphins and confidence post-sessions
- Young women are stepping up to coach because they see their capabilities in mentorship sessions
Kris interviewing Fremantle Dockers’ Ange Stannett, Fremantle City FC NPLW, and Perth Glory Captain Natasha Rigby and Mikayla Lyons.
About Gaining Ground WA:
Gaining Ground WA is a women-founded and led mental well-being not-for-profit that supports players with the tools to become confident, emotionally intelligent women and girls who step up as role models, coaches, and leaders in the game and their communities. Since 2020, we’ve created 150 mentors and supported more than 600 girls.
The organisation was started by a group of women playing at Fremantle City Football Club in 2019. They have volunteered their time for the last four years to ensure the program is free and accessible to women and girls. Their vision is a more gender-equitable future where women and girls are leading to their true capabilities on and off the pitch: Founder Kris Marano, Mikayla Lyons, Sue Smith, Shanan Hanutsaha, Sara Vitelli, Tash Stevens, Claire Bailey, Jarrah Smith-Taylor.
Attracting women coaches:
Faye Chambers, Head Coach of the NPLW team, accepted her coaching role and enters her second year at Fremantle City Football Club because of Gaining Ground WA. She is the first woman in the history of the club to coach this team. She has made the program mandatory for her NPLW players to train with U14s and U12 players.
“Gaining Ground heavily influenced my decision to accept this coaching role, as their values and beliefs align with my own to create a successful team on and off the pitch. I am enthused by their focus on female athlete wellbeing.”
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Creating women coaches:
Jarrah Smith-Taylor joined Gaining Ground WA in 2022 as a mentor. In less than two years she has joined the women’s and girls’ committee of the Club, facilitated the mentorship program, mentored U12 and U14 girls to build confidence in themselves, and in 2024 will be the youngest woman to coach the U14 Academy Girls team.
“I truly believe Gaining Ground can make a difference in changing the women’s game. The mentorship program is very special to me. I love being able to encourage and inspire a new generation of young women.”
Creating a culture of joy and belonging: Our program benefits girls under 14 the most, addressing the alarming dropout rates among women and girls in sports. NPLW players serve as inspiring role models, enriching our club culture.
“We had two NPLW players come to our training. Our girls loved it. The feedback from the parents as well as extremely positive and overall we are proud of the amazing and supportive culture at our club that Gaining Ground has contributed towards.” – Rudi Cyrbja, U12 Girls Academy Coach
“Gaining Ground adds another dimension to our club and continues to be an important part of our culture and future.” – David Cain, Vice President, Fremantle City Football Club
Join the movement by volunteering, sponsoring, or partnering with Gaining Ground WA. Email hello@gaininggroundwa.com.au to get involved!
