Superb article and I witnessed and awful lot of whats said.
Sadly I didnt react at any time I saw any of these sorts of events, I simply felt I had no ability or standing to make any impact if I complained or brought anything up.
I think that article and the topic really deserve its own thread.
We have a huge problem in not believing in our own, not providing the pathways (despite NZF making a huge number of claims and proclamations over the last decade) for female coaches (and to a certain extent local male coaches).
There is absolutely a massive problem with local coaches being told they lack the level of experience required or the level of qualification being expected.
2 big problems with that.
We dont provide opportunities for experience despite having lots of opportunities to provide the experience needed. I have mentioned this before elsewhere, we qualify for every age group world cup, u17 mens, u17 womens, u20 mens, u20 womens as well as the Olympics and coaches have been told they have missed out on being assistant coaches on these campaigns because they lack experience despite having passed every coaching badge NZF provide. These campaigns are the PERFECT chance to give local coaches a chance to gain experience, assistants dont need a phd or 30 years experience.....
The second big issue is that NZF coaching qualifications are not high enough for FIFA international requirements. So our own National body is incapable of providing the coaching requirements needed to coach at the highest levels. NZF are unable to provide FIFA coaching badge courses.
NZF have a real issue with transparency despite their pr and spin. Years ago I attended a level 3 course run by John Herdman. On that course we were all told that to coach at certain levels you had to be qualified and have attained NZF qualifications. Simon Eaddy was a candidate on that course (hes also a good guy and what happened wasnt his fault.) For the final block of the course (4 days at NHS) he had been promoted to being one of the coaches/instructors on the course despite the fact he hadnt completed the course or had any qualification.
There are numerous examples like this.
I note that again its one of our women player/coaches bringing to light major problems. The senior womens side have done us a huge favour in standing up to the problems they experienced and now one of our former international players Wendi Henderson is making noises relating to coaching and pathways. Our game is dominated by men but its our women trying to show direction.
Someone please make this a thread with a suitable title or topic, we need big changes not just for our female side of the game but for all coaching as well.