rebel Female Football Week

Coaches, administrators, journalists, players and more gathered from all over the country to kick off a week of celebrating girls and women’s football.

Journalist and presenter Lucy Zelic ran the show, with FFA’s CEO David Gallop welcoming the room.

The Australian football community will once again celebrate the outstanding contributions made by females towards the betterment of football during the upcoming rebel Female Football Week. #FemaleFootballWeek pic.twitter.com/1NXF484p4I

— Football Australia (@FFA) March 1, 2018

 ​The keynote address came from Erica Berchtold, Managing Director at rebel. She began by sharing her own story as a successful business person, before noting the areas that both women in sport and women in business have to tap into in order to thrive.

Berchtold addressed four key areas where the two overlap: bravery/courage, be able to embrace change, humility and resilience.

Berchtold is one of Female Football Week’s official spokespeople. She is joined by Lucy Turnbull AO, Westfield Matildas and Perth Glory striker Sam Kerr, journalist Tara Rushton and Football United’s Assmaah Helel.

Emma Highwood, FFA’s head of Women’s, Community and Football Development, went on to announce the winners from the Member Federation category and the Hyundai A-League/Westfield W-League award categories, as listed below.

This year saw the introduction of a new award, the rebel Role Model Award. The guidelines stipulated the player must have shown professional excellence on and off the pitch, have played for the Westfield W-League during the 2017/2018 season and be under 21 years of age.

Jada Whyman was the inaugural recipient of the rebel Role Model Award. Whyman was selected both for her contribution to the Western Sydney Wanderers onfield campaign as a talented keeper this past season, as well as for her continuous advocacy and work in the community as role model and mentor.

Congratulations to @jada_whyman, the inaugural recipient of the rebel Role Model Award. #femalefootballweek

Full story: https://t.co/e3ZMq7g4Jk pic.twitter.com/gF52MU1FG7

— Football Australia (@FFA) March 2, 2018

 ​She spoke with Zelic after receiving the award, sharing her experiences as a sporty kid who thrived the most at soccer (in a family of league/AFL fans!).

“My football passion came from it meaning so much to me,” she said.

The festivities will run until 10th March, with individual federations offering their own unique programs. This year Female Football Week will specifically work to promote discussion around gender equality, and to bolster the support of women-specific programs to break down barriers for women and girls.

Member Federation Category:

Hyundai A-League/Westfield W-League Category