http://www.wsff.org.uk Latest news from the Womens Sports Foundation en-uk Thu, 13 Nov 08 15:14:42 GMT Copyright: (C) WSF Commiserations to both the England Women's Rugby League team and the England -17 Women's Football team as they both lost their world cup semi finals. Both teams performed very well early in their competitions but couldn't quite make it to the final, the rugby league team losing to New Zealand and the football team losing to North Korea. For anyone who still has any doubts about the quality of women's football in this country.... follow this link to take a look at Isobel Christiansen's stunning last minute 40 yard strike which took the Quarter Final against Japan into extra time. Goal of the season beyond doubt http://www.fifa.com/u17womensworldcup/matches/round=249940/match=300052915/index.html The Women's Sport and Fitness Foundation (WSFF) has announced Sweat in the City (www.sweatinthecity.co.uk), an innovative research project designed to win a better understanding of how to motivate women to become more active Run in partnership with the Fitness Industry Association (FIA), Sweat in the City is offering 3,000 16 - 24 year old women who live in London and currently do little or no exercise, a unique package of free and mentored gym membership. The programme's ambassador, Jessica Taylor, officially launched the programme today (1 September http://www.wsff.org.uk/documents/SitC_Launch.doc Middlesbrough Girls Centre of Excellence are looking to recruit a goalkeeper for their U16 squad. For players to be considered they must be between 14 and 16 years old (over 14 by 1st September 2008, under 16 by 31st August 2008 The FA's Girls Centre of Excellence programme is the route into England age-group squads on the womens player pathway and is responsible for producing all of the players involved in the England U17 squad who are currently in the Semi-Finals at the U17 World Cup in New Zealand If you know of any talented goalkeepers who would like to be considered for the Girls Centre of Excellence, please ask them to contact the Centre Director, Craig Nicholson (craig.nicholson@mfcp.co.uk) for more details. (Please note that any player involved in club football MUST notify their club at least 7 days prior to applying for a Centre of Excellence trial http://www.mfcic.co.uk/mfcic/middlesbrough_girls_centre_of_excellence.html WSFF are supporting a petition on the Number10.gov.uk website which asks the Prime Minister to support a GB women's football team at the London 2012 Olympics. As the petition explains, 'football is now the most popular team sport for women and girls but the women's game continues to be vastly under-represented in the media. Showcasing GB women's football at the London Olympics would encourage more girls and women to participate in team sport, to the benefit of their health and well-being'. WSFF are pleased to see that the FA have suggested they are prepared to send an England only women's team, if the other home countries' can't come to an agreement, but WSFF would prefer to see a GB team at the Olympics in 2012. To join us in supporting this petition please follow this link http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/GBFemaleFootball/ or http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/GBFemaleFootball/ Sporting Equals are leading on the delivery of a series of free practitioner led briefing workshops aimed for individuals and organisations working in the field of Sport and Physical Activity promotion, development, governance, coaching and management. Information on how to book your place can be downloaded here http://www.wsff.org.uk/documents/EHRS_Workshops_ALL.pdf On Thursday 16th October Hope Powell OBE, the FA National Women's Coach, visited London Marathon Playing Field Greenwich to launch an innovative new project called Female Coach Development http://www.wsff.org.uk/documents/Press_Release_FCD.doc Claire Taylor and Isa Guha lead England's charge in the Reliance Mobile ICC ODI Women's Rankings which were launched in Mumbai on Thursday.Taylor, who was shortlisted for the ICC Women's Cricketer of the Year award in 2006, 2007 and 2008, heads the batting listing that includes six England batters in the top 20 while second-placed 23-year-old fast bowler Guha leads the parade of five England bowlers in the top 20 http://www.wsff.org.uk/documents/s_rankings.doc