As part of International Women’s Day 2022, we speak to leaders within the NSFA organisation to discuss the #BreakTheBias campaign. Our final interview is with NSFA and Northern Tigers Technical Director Jason Eagar.
This year’s theme for IWD is break the bias, what does that mean to you?
Awareness of what decisions are made and testing the equality of those decisions.
In your role as Technical Director how do you celebrate women’s successes?
Talk about the successes, share the successes across the Club and Association, showcase the successes, recognition of successes as exemplars of what is possible, be proud of the successes.
As leaders in NSFA/Northern Tigers football community Why is it important and how can you raise awareness of bias? What actions have you taken/can take to strive for equality?
To shine a light on bias, to improve awareness, leading to positive change in the future – so equality is the norm. For equality to become the norm, bias must be called out and challenged. Northern Tigers can lead the way by holding others in the football community to account and by being a positive role model. At Northern Tigers we are striving for equality in everything we do – from financial resourcing, coaching resources, training allocations, support staff, equipment, pathway opportunities etc. All decisions consider equality and “what is best for her”. Females in the Northern Tigers community have a strong and valued voice and the Club is immensely better for it.
Recognising as we strive for equality, women may not have had the same opportunities as men previously. What have you done or will do to ensure we close the gap and provide women with opportunities to take up leadership positions in football?
What has been done – Identifying and supporting female players to move into leadership positions (coaching). What more can be done – understand the barriers that prevent more female involvement in leadership positions and work to overcome those barriers.
NSFA/Northern Tigers identify the need for more females to take up leadership positions within football. Currently we lack representation as club technical directors, WAA Premier League coaches, Super League and Diamond League coaches, and Club Coaching Coordinators. What would your message be to encourage existing leaders in football to identify, develop and promote female football leaders?
Encourage local Clubs to look within, review their structures and culture to assess if they provide an environment that embraces and fosters female leadership.
Click here for more information about International Women’s Day and the #BreakTheBias campaign.