University of Wollongong to launch pilot program for women’s high performance football

The University of Wollongong (UOW) is launching its six-week ‘Women’s High Performance Pilot Football Program’ on 29th July - a ground-breaking initiative designed to provide female athletes with a holistic, tailored development experience.

The newly developed program takes a comprehensive approach, addressing the specific needs of individual female footballers and athletes through high-quality football sessions, strength and conditioning training, and female-specific sports science components such as nutrition and injury prevention.

Program head coach and former Brighton and Hove Albion FC Academy coach Mel Pennington said the program features educational sessions on critical topics for female footballers, including the impact of menstrual cycles and the proper fitting of sports bras.

Pennington advised “The UOW Women’s High Performance Pilot Football Program is an amazing opportunity for female athletes, as it takes a holistic approach working in depth and looking at specific needs of the individual athlete.

“In addition to football skills, strength and conditioning, nutrition and injury prevention sessions, there will be education sessions looking at a range of important topics for a female footballer, including the impact of the menstrual cycles and correctly fitting of sports bras.

“I’m not aware of any other program that is so specifically designed for female footballers and it’s something I would have loved to have done as a student myself.”

Exercise, Sports Science and Rehabilitation Associate Professor Ric Lovell emphasised the program's alignment with the UOW Sports Strategy adding “this initiative leverages our academic excellence, research capabilities, and community partnerships to improve health and wellbeing, promote inclusive participation, and enhance our global standing in sports education and research for female athletes.”

UOW Sports Programs Manager and Director James Pendrigh said the program’s focus on individualised development had potential for expansion to other sports in the future.

“This program supplements players’ existing club training, playing environments, and university schedules, ensuring a balanced approach to their athletic and academic commitments,” Pendrigh advised.

“We are dedicated to mapping out clear player pathways within the program, providing structured opportunities for growth and advancement. Leveraging the University’s expertise in female-specific sports science, we integrate methodologies tailored to benefit female footballers and potentially extend to other sports in the future.”

This initiative aims to empower high-performance female athletes in the Illawarra region, opening up opportunities for females aged 16 and older to participate in the comprehensive program.

Kellie McIntyre, a first-year Bachelor of Medical and Health Sciences student who plays for the South Coast Flame, will participate in the pilot program.

McIntyre is looking forward to the female education sessions and how they directly relate to her training and performance and shared “training with that knowledge will be invaluable for my development. I'm especially excited about the individualised strength and conditioning aspect as it will enhance my physical capabilities.

“I appreciate how the program accommodates my commitments with South Coast Flame, as well as my university schedule. It supplements my current regimen without detracting from it.

“I'm excited for the football sessions because they focus on individual development rather than training to perform as a structured team.”

The UOW Women's High Performance Pilot Football Program is a significant step forward in the University's commitment to advancing female sports. It promises to set a new standard for high-performance training and development for female athletes in the Illawarra region and beyond.

Illawarra Stingrays President Kathy McDonogh said the program at UOW will benefit the overall development of female athletes in the Illawarra region.

“Illawarra Stingrays FC are proud to support UOW’s upcoming pilot football program in July. The Stingrays will have participants supporting the program,” McDonogh added.

“It’s exciting to know the football program at UOW will support female athletes in the Illawarra region by delivering an individualised, high performance, development program for all female athletes in our region, starting with football.”

For questions or enquiries go to UOW Women's High Performance Pilot Football Program

Image top: South Coast Flame Female Football goalkeeper Credit: Gragrapix; Image above: Credit: Illawarra Stingrays