University of Birmingham selected as FA Women’s High Performance Football Centre
Thursday 13th July
The University of Birmingham has been selected as one of eight universities in the country which will become official High Performance Centres for women’s football.
The new initiative from the FA will provide an educational and community-based setting to recruit, develop and deploy coaches, who will lead and inspire player development specifically in the women’s and girls’ game.
The High Performance status will enable the University to develop as a central facility of excellence for women’s football, pulling all of the region’s resources together to push the boundaries of the sport together. In addition to being this hotbed of growth, the label will add value to the already high level of coaches at the University, and enhance the drive for high performance players and members.
For Gemma Davies, Head of Women’s Football and Football Development Officer at the University of Birmingham, it’s a fantastic time to get involved with the sport:
‘We are really excited to be selected to be a Women’s High Performance Hub. As well as recognising what we have achieved so far in the sport, it also allows us to become an accredited hub of excellence for women’s football and a site of best practice. We have so much we want to build on, from broadening our grass-roots coaching support, to workforce development, to continuing to drive for high performance players and coaches. It’s a great time to be encouraging more women and girls into the sport in Birmingham.’
The University has been playing its part in encouraging women’s football in the community for a number of years, and the title of being an FA Women’s High Performance Centre clearly recognises the achievements so far. From supporting local school’s sports festivals, to coach mentoring and support, to workforce development, the University of Birmingham Women’s Football Club has been instrumental in increasing participation levels of the number of women involved in football in Birmingham. It’s an exciting time for the University, which has invested a lot in making Birmingham the go-to place for sport. In addition to the new £55million world-class Sport & Fitness Club, the University is investing in new outdoor sports facilities including new pitches and a pavilion.