NZC is committed to developing the depth and capability of female leaders and female-focused leaders across the cricket network, through providing and facilitating development opportunities at all levels of the sport.
The Female Leadership Development Framework is a key aspect of NZC and Sport NZ’s ‘Strengthen & Adapt’ partnership. It is focused on amplifying and enhancing the off-field visibility and capability of females, and those focused on championing and developing females, across the key areas of governance, administration, umpiring and coaching.
Underpinned by our vision ‘a game for all New Zealanders; a game for life’, a key factor to our success is ‘normalising’ female involvement in all aspects of cricket and developing leaders who are capable, visible and active across the cricket network.
Female Leadership Development Framework Overview
Contestable Fund
The Contestable Fund is one of the key initiatives in the Female Leadership Development Framework which aims to encourage locally-led activity, with national support. Under this initiative, funding is available to Major Associations, District Associations, Clubs or Schools on an annual basis. The contestable fund successfully commenced during the 2021/22 season, with ten leadership development initiatives supported throughout New Zealand. A full overview of the Contestable Fund is below:
Female Leadership Development Contestable Fund Initiatives 2022/23
Female Leadership Development Contestable Fund Initiatives 2021/22
In it's second season, NZC are thrilled to provide funding to support x17 female leadership development initiatives which will delivered by MA's, DA's and affiliated clubs across Aotearoa throughout the 22/23 season.
Check out two female youth leadership programmes delivered during the 21/22 season by Cricket Wellington and Otago Cricket.
Cricket Wellington Young Leaders
Following on from its inaugural season in 20/21, Cricket Wellington again ran their Young Leaders Programme which received funding from the contestable fund, check out the video:
Otago Cricket Suzie Bates Leaders Course
Commencing during the 21/22 season, Otago Cricket delivered the ‘Suzie Bates Leaders Course’, a leadership programme for females aged 15-20 years old which also received funding from the contestable fund, check out the video:
Aspiring Female Umpire Programme
Centered around the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield, the Aspiring Female Umpire Development Programme commenced during the 21/22 season and provides development opportunities to female umpires and bridges the gap between community cricket appointments and domestic cricket appointments.
A full overview of the inaugural Aspiring Female Umpire Development Programme can be found below: Aspiring Female Umpire Programme 21-22
In its second season, the Aspiring Female Umpire Programme looks to build on the momentum with some exciting new additions. New Zealand Cricket will be working with Major Associations, to ensure aspiring female umpires are observed locally throughout the season and provided with feedback and development opportunities to improve their skills. This season, Kim Cotton and Christelle High are also involved as mentors for the group.
For more information about the programme click the link below:
Aspiring Female Umpire Programme 22-23
Find out more about the first female match referee, Sue Morris:
Pathway to Performance - Female Coaching Programme
The Pathway to Performance Female Coaching Programme is an element of NZC and Sport NZ’s ‘Strengthen and Adapt’ partnership. It aims to provide development opportunities to female coaches, specifically those who are currently coaching at the community level and have aspirations to develop and move into performance coaching roles.
Pathway to Performance is a six-month programme targeting female coaches who have shown an interest and skillset suited to coaching high-performance cricket in the future. The programme will provide development opportunities through various mediums and on-going support from the NZC coach development team, and women’s performance team.
An overview of the inaugural Pathway to Performance Programme can be found below:
