UOW’s women’s football program kicks off new standards for female athlete development

Female athletes, like University of Wollongong student and South Coast Flame player Kellie McIntyre, can now score a holistic development experience through UOW’s pioneering Women’s High Performance Football Program that’s set to redefine training and development standards.

The six-week pilot program has just launched and offers female athletes 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 it would feature educational sessions on critical topics for female footballers, including the impact of menstrual cycles and proper fitting of sports bras.

Mel said the program was an amazing opportunity for female athletes, as it took 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,” she said.

“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.”

Kellie, a first-year Bachelor of Medical and Health Sciences student at UOW, said she was looking forward to the female education sessions and how they directly related to her training and performance as a South Coast Flames player.

“Training with that knowledge will be invaluable for my development,” she said.

“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.”

She said she was excited for the football sessions because they focused on individual development rather than training to perform as a structured team.

Illawarra Stingrays president Kathy McDonogh said the program at UOW would 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,” Kathy said.

“The Stingrays will have participants supporting the program.

“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.”

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,” James said.

“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.”

Exercise, Sports Science and Rehabilitation Associate Professor Ric Lovell said the program aligned with the UOW Sports Strategy.

“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,” Associate Professor Lovell said.

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

Questions or enquiries can be directed to the UOW Women’s High Performance Pilot Football Program.