WOMEN OFFICIALS STRATEGY AND PLANNING
RECRUITMENT, MANAGEMENT AND RETENTION
MARKETING AND COMMUNICATION
SUPPORT MECHANISMS / POSITIVE ACTIONS
Welcome to the Learning Resources on recruitment, retention and engagement of women sport officials
FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL PILLAR EXPLORE LEARNING RESOURCES TO HELP YOUR ORGANISATION IMPROVE
||| PILLAR 1
Women Officials Strategy and Planning
This first Pillar of the toolkit focuses on supporting you to take an overview of officiating in your sport through a gender lens: identifying the needs and requirements of women officials and creating a vision for the future. It also covers developing an equitable culture and putting in place the resources to realise your women sport official’s strategy. From here, you can access resources that will help you plan effectively for the involvement of women officials in your sport.
ACCESS PILLAR 1
LEARNING RESOURCES
1.1 - Assess your women officiating needs – undertake a needs analysis and identify gender gaps
Undertaking a needs analysis and identifying gender gaps in your sport is an important step towards promoting gender equality and inclusivity.
1.2 - Understand gender and cultural needs in your sport
Understanding gender and cultural needs in your sport is crucial for creating an inclusive and welcoming environment.
1.3 - Develop, implement and evaluate a women official’s strategy / plan / programme
Developing, implementing, and evaluating a women officials’ strategy is an essential step towards promoting gender equality and increasing the representation of women in officiating roles.
1.4 - Develop an inclusive, equitable, pan gender – friendly culture
Developing an inclusive, equitable, and pan gender-friendly culture is essential for creating a welcoming environment where all individuals feel valued and respected.
1.5 - Seek financial and other resources to support a women official’s strategy
Seeking financial and other resources to support a women officials’ strategy is crucial for its successful implementation.
||| PILLAR 2
Recruitment, Management and Retention
The second Pillar of the toolkit provides support for all aspects of the women sport official recruitment and retention processes, from raising the profile of the role, attracting and recruiting women and ensuring positive experiences, to developing equitable pathways and ensuring fair deployment of officials.
ACCESS PILLAR 2
LEARNING RESOURCES
2.1 - Identify, attract and recruit women to become sport officials
Identifying, attracting, and recruiting women to become sport officials can help promote diversity and inclusivity in the field.
2.2 - Raise the profile of women in officiating by using role models
Role models play a crucial role in raising the profile of women sports officials and inspiring others to pursue similar paths.
2.3 - Ensure ‘first touch’ experience is positive and engaging
Ensuring a positive and engaging first touch experience for new women officials is crucial for making a lasting impression on individuals. Often the first touch is when they enquire about taking an officiating course, followed by the actual course delivery, it’s important that this is a positive experience from the beginning.
2.4 - Ensure fair equitable development pathways are established and shared at all times
To ensure the establishment and sharing of fair and equitable development pathways
2.5 - Ensure fair deployment of new women sport officials with appropriate support
Ensuring the fair deployment of new women sport officials and providing appropriate support is crucial to their success and retention.
||| PILLAR 3
Marketing and Communication
The third Pillar of the toolkit considers approaches to marketing and communications and how to apply them effectively to the engagement of women sport officials. This Pillar provides support for marketing campaigns, developing engaging materials, using different forms of communication, and evaluating communication activities.
ACCESS PILLAR 3
LEARNING RESOURCES
3.1 - Identify appropriate and realistic target markets
To effectively market women to become sport officials, you could consider who your target market consists of for example ex-players or parents.
3.2 - Ensure appropriate, engaging marketing materials
To ensure that marketing materials for women sport officials are appropriate and engaging.
3.3 - Communication with new and existing women sport officials to promote the role
Maintaining communication with new and existing women officials is crucial for promoting the role of sport officiating and fostering a supportive community.
3.4 - Use a variety of relevant forms of communication to engage women
To engage women and encourage them to become sports officials, it’s important to utilise various forms of communication.
3.5 - Monitor and evaluate the success of marketing initiatives
Monitoring and evaluating the success of marketing initiatives is crucial to measure their effectiveness and make informed decisions for future campaigns.
||| PILLAR 4
Support Mechanisms / Positive Actions
The fourth and final Pillar of the toolkit deals with all aspects of working directly with women sport officials in your sport. In order to retain women officials you need to consult and engage with them effectively and support their development and growth in their role through training, mentoring and other development activities. It is also important to recognise women specific considerations of your officiating workforce.
ACCESS PILLAR 4
LEARNING RESOURCES
4.1 - Consult and engage with women sport officials in your sport
Consulting and engaging with women sport officials in your sport is an important step toward promoting gender equality and inclusivity.
4.2 - Create a positive culture for the acceptance and respect of women officials
Creating a positive culture for the acceptance and respect of women sport officials requires a concerted effort to promote gender equality, inclusivity, and respect within an organisation or community.
4.3 - Provide a mentor programme
To provide a mentorship program.
4.4 - Recognise women sport officiating considerations
When considering women sport officials, it’s important to address certain considerations to promote inclusivity, fairness, and equal opportunities.
4.5 - Facilitate women sport officials personal and career development
Facilitating the personal and career development of women sport officials is crucial for their growth, retention, and advancement within the field.
