Despite some progress in attaining a certain degree of inclusivity in the past few years, the football industry still has a long way to go. In a fantastic new initiative to level the playing field for Black and Brown women, founder of MANON Mindset Coaching & Consultancy, Jenny Simmons, has launched a group coaching programme called ‘The Final Third’. Set to start in a full capacity in January, this group is advertised to give participants the tools to thrive in the football industry.
When speaking about this new venture, Jenny Simmons said:
“I decided to launch ‘The Final Third’ Group Coaching Programme as I feel so strongly that creating small, engaged communities can have great effects on us individually and as a collective – helping to support, nurture and push one another forward.”
The programme aims to create a small, engaging, and supportive community for Black and Brown women in the football industry.
In a press release, Simmons expressed the reasons why she created this space:
“When it comes to Black and Brown women in the football industry specifically, you don’t need to look far to see evidence that, despite improvements, it’s still not the most inclusive space, that realisation takes its toll and can be challenging to navigate.”
As of now, Simmons is working in a 1:1 capacity with a select few women who are passionate about taking their next steps into the industry. The group aims to be in full swing in the new year and participants will be given the opportunity to flourish and grow within a tight community.
The impact of a supportive community can encourage and propel each member to greater heights and more rewarding experiences. That is especially crucial in this space of coaching, where more women on the whole are gaining positions of power and leadership. However, most of this success is falling to white women.
Sports have often been thought of as an equalizing force; on the field, everyone is the same. But we know this is not true. Micro-aggressions and systemic inequalities are prevalent throughout the football industry. Even overt racism in the form of abuse, online or in person, is far too common in the women’s game today. Initiatives such as ‘The Final Third’ are invaluable in taking steps to truly level the playing field.
The programme will focus on three core subjects: desires, fears, and blockers that are “stopping us from making our visions a reality.” The sessions will include specific tools for self-reflection and speaking to the emotions regarding the action of going after personal and professional goals.
“The outcome I hope for is that the individuals on the programme have more clarity on what their goals are, why they’re focused on those specific areas and how to take actionable next steps and create plans to take them closer to their desires.”
Unfortunately, there are relatively few high-profile examples in coaching for Black and Brown women to look up to. The trailblazing Hope Powell, who currently serves as technical director for Birmingham City, is a fantastic role model for women going down this path, but one would hope that she is soon joined in prominence by a rising generation of female coaches from diverse backgrounds. Turning to coaching after a professional career playing football is a popular avenue, and the diversity within this should reflect the growth within the game.
Within a still-developing demographic of Black and Brown female coaches, it will be incredibly valuable to foster a supportive community for the women who choose to step into the football industry. ‘The Final Third’ could set the standard for excellence in empowering initiatives such as this.
“Where I need support is from brands, federations, clubs and institutions to put their money where their mouths are in terms of enabling tangible support for Black and Brown women operating in the football industry, whose experiences are not the same as their White counterparts,” Simmons said. “Whether that’s elite athletes, coaches, referees or corporate employees, occurrences during this summer’s Euros continue to show us that more support is needed and we’re a long way from the inclusive culture we’re striving for in the game.”
