A networking evening that coincides with the NPL Women's NNSW Match of the Round will headline Northern NSW Football's 2022 Female Football Week celebrations.
Female Football Week will run from Friday 6 May to Sunday 15 May, giving the football community the chance to celebrate the immense growth of the women's game and acknowledge female players, coaches, referees and administrators in football.
The marquee event of the week is the networking evening to be held at the Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility on Saturday 14 May.
The night will celebrate the accomplishments and contributions of women in football as well as volunteers who have donated hours of service to growing and improving the game for women and girls across northern NSW.
Football Australia's General Manager - World Cup Legacy Programs Carlee Millikin will speak about Football Australia's FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 Legacy Plan (Legacy '23) and how this will impact football for women and girls in the coming years.
NNSWF will announce its 2022 Female Football Week award winners at the event, as well as the recipients of the 2022 Advanced Coaching Scholarship for Women.
The NPL Women's NNSW Match of the Round between Charlestown Azzurri and Newcastle Olympic will follow the networking evening, with the fixture to be played on the grass pitch at the Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility.
In addition to the networking evening, Northern NSW Football will host another seven events across the week including a Coaching Masterclass conducted by Football Australia's Women's Technical Advisor and under-17s women's head coach Rae Dower, while FIFA listed referee Kate Jacewicz will conduct a Referee Masterclass.
Jacewicz will then lead an all-female team of match officials to take charge of the NPL Men's NNSW Match of the Round between Charlestown Azzurri and Broadmeadow Magic at Lisle Carr Oval on Sunday. This will be the first time an all-female match official team has officiated a NPL Men's NNSW fixture.
The appointment has been rescheduled from last year's Female Football Week, with Jacewicz a late withdrawal after being appointed as reserve VAR for the A-League grand final in Melbourne.
"Kate is a very experienced referee and it will be a great opportunity for young referees from our region to see her in action," NNSWF Referee Manager Brad Carlin said.
"It is wonderful that a referee of Kate's calibre will be here to inspire our next generation of female and male referees."
Assistant Referees Samantha Newell and Lucy Hungerford and Fourth Official Alison Macready will make up the match official crew alongside Jacewicz on Sunday.
There will be another 53 Female Football Week events run by 42 northern NSW clubs during the week.
"Female Football Week is our opportunity to celebrate the significant contribution that women and girls make to football across northern NSW," Northern NSW Football Female Participation and Inclusion Officer Annelise Rosnell said.
"Women and girls have made massive progress in football across northern NSW in recent years and we want to acknowledge that.
"We are holding events across the week with the networking evening being the marquee event where our football community will come together to celebrate the growth and accomplishments of women's and girls' football."
For a full list of events and more information visit here!
