Behind every thriving women’s and girls’ footy team is a coach who goes above and beyond. Whether they're building confidence, creating opportunities, inspiring the next generation or helping players fall in love with the game, these coaches make a lasting impact both on and off the field.
The BHP AFLW Community Coach of the Year Award celebrates the incredible people driving the growth of women’s and girls’ football in communities across Australia.
Nominations for 2026 are now closed.
Terms & Conditions apply.
$5,000 for their club
$5,000 personal prize
Two invitations to the W Awards to receive the award (including flights and accommodation)
Coach education session/workshop of your choosing
2 x 2026 Toyota AFLW Grand Final tickets, including flights and accommodation
Money-can’t-buy experience at the 2026 Toyota AFLW Grand Final
Every July, proudly supported by BHP, Women’s Coaching Month celebrates the women who are shaping the future of coaching across our game. In 2026, the theme ‘Keep Coaching. Keep Leading’ celebrated the impact of women coaches, supporting growth, recognising leadership, and encouraged coaches to stay involved and keep making a difference.
Throughout the month, we highlighted the pathways, programs and initiatives supporting more women and girls to get involved in coaching, from grassroots through to the elite level.
Women coaches are at the heart of our game in communities everywhere. They lead with passion, care and commitment, making a lasting impact on players, clubs and the broader football community. As trailblazers, they are forging new paths, creating opportunity, and inspiring others to follow in their footsteps, helping to shape a more inclusive future for coaching at every level.
Hosted by AFL’s Nat Edwards, hear from Olympic Gold Medalist, Noemie Fox and AFLW Legends Abbey Holmes, Alicia Eva and Emma Kearney in the Champions of Change online webinar.
We've developed specialised resources to support the women’s game, including this Prep-to-Play handbook, the Female Performance and Health initiative, a Coaching Toolkit, and the BHP Community Coach Award.
The purpose of this guide is to support coaches of Women’s and Girls’ football teams at all levels. As such it focuses on general principles relevant to varying skills and abilities. It has been designed to offer coaches practical ideas and strategies that they can implement at their Club, School or Auskick Centre.
See how Alicia Eva, Chloe McMillan, Emma Kearney and Shae Sloan are making an impact at the elite level.