Female Coaches Gain Insight into Para Football at St George’s Park

St George’s Park welcomed a group of female coaches on 14th December for a dedicated Para Performance CPD event, delivered by England Football Learning. The day was designed to provide coaches from the Gamechangers and Powerhouse Project networks with an opportunity to learn in a high-performance environment and deepen their understanding of Para football and the England Para teams.

The event was led by Ryan Davies (Senior Lead – Para Performance Coach Development), Sharon Muxworthy (Female Game EDI Lead) and Jess Saunders (Game Insights Analyst), who guided the group through a programme that combined theory, discussion and live match observation. 

Throughout the course, the group covered four specific key areas: leading in the boardroom, leading the future game, leading high-performance teams, and leading and developing culture. Each module included a peer group session to give the learners the opportunity to share their varied knowledge and experience. 

Coaches explored:  

• The seven England Para Teams, their formats and pathways.
• Key considerations for coaching Para players in a high-performance environment.
• A behind-the-scenes tour of St George’s Park, the home of England Football.

The group also observed the England Deaf Women’s Futsal team international fixture against Northern Ireland, linking learning to real-world performance.

A highlight of the day was an honest and insightful Q&A session with England Deaf Women Head Coach Steve Daley and team captain Zara Musker, held just hours before kick-off. Their insights into international Para football, preparing for tournaments and the sense of belonging within the squad left a lasting impression on attendees.

Feedback from the coaches captured the impact of the experience:

"Today was such an incredible opportunity, one of those days you dream about as a coach!”

Others highlighted the practical learning:

“Today was eye-opening in terms of highlighting the different pathways to performance in Para football. It showed how aspects of coaching interlink between mainstream and Para, but also the adaptations needed to support players’ development at the highest level.”

The event reflects England Football Learning’s commitment to creating opportunities for female coaches and promoting inclusive pathways across the game. By exposing coaches to Para football’s elite environment, the day reinforced the importance of diversity and adaptability in coaching.