Before jetting off to Germany with the England Women's team, Sue Smith took time out to attend the East Midlands Female Coach Mentoring Scheme event in South Derbyshire.

Sue shared her enthusiasm for the game and her experiences of coaching with the female coaches in attendance at the event, held at the Pingle School.

The event was the second held in the region and followed on from the first meeting that took place in Nottingham in April.

The aims and objectives of the scheme are as follows:

Aims:

  • To increase the number of active female coaches in the East Midlands
  • To increase knowledge and confidence of active coaches working with groups at 5-11, 11-16 and 17+ years
  • To develop more coaches who are qualified to coach the FA Youth Award Level 3 Unit 1 and at Level 2

Objectives:

  • To offer an ongoing support network for all female coaches in the region
  • For each individual to achieve their own coaching potential
  • To develop as an effective coach working with their players
  • To develop coaching values and self-worth
  • To act as an ambassador for the broader coaching community

Co-ordinated by the Girls and Women's Football Development Officers in the East Midlands and by The FA's Regional Coach Development Manager, Paul Smalley, around seventy female coaches have signed up to the scheme.

Coaches will have the opportunity to attend various courses and activities in their home counties and will also get the chance to attend the five regional events at each one of the five partner counties over the next 18 months.

Saturday's event featured workshops and sessions from:

  • Les Howie (The FA)
  • Emily Simpkins (Young Leader - Derbyshire / Derby County FC)
  • Marion Hayton (Leicestershire & Rutland County FA)
  • Sarah Green (Nottingham Forest Girls' Centre of Excellence)
  • Mark Kearney and Emma Dennis (The FA Tesco Skills Programme)

Derbyshire County FA's Keely Brown said, "It was a fantastic day and great to see so many female coaches from across the region taking advantage of the networking opportunity and also tapping into the knowledge and expertise of our guest speakers and coaches.

"I would like to thank everyone for their support and contribution to the day and especially Sue Smith who was due to fly out to Germany the very next day."