Svenska Spel backs initiative to increase female football coaches in Sweden | Gambling Insider
The initiative aims to help women pursue higher-level coaching certifications by providing financial and educational support.
Key points:
– Svenska Spel will support the “Coach Lift” initiative to boost the number of trained female football coaches
– Since 2023, 144 women have received UEFA B licences through the program, with 48 more set to join in 2025
– The program is part of a long-term strategy to improve gender equality in Swedish football coaching
The Swedish Football Association (SvFF) and Svenska Spel have announced a new partnership to support “The Coach Lift” (Tränarlyftet) initiative, which aims to increase the number of female football coaches in Sweden.
The collaboration will see Svenska Spel join as a key sponsor of the program.
Since its inception, The Coach Lift has funded UEFA B coaching education for 144 female coaches, with an additional 48 participants set to receive their UEFA B licence this year.
This educational path is considered crucial for coaches looking to lead teams at higher competitive levels, but has historically seen limited female participation due to cost and time constraints.
Commenting on the development, Ellinor Johansson of the Swedish Football Association stated: “Svenska Spel’s commitment and willingness to pursue gender equality issues make them a natural and obvious partner in Tränarlyftet. We are very happy that they are joining in and supporting it.”
Good to know: The collaboration between Svenska Spel and the Swedish Football Association extends until 2028, providing long-term support for the initiative
Before the initiative was established, female representation among UEFA B licensed coaches was notably low; in 2021, only 64 women held a UEFA B licence out of 1,045 total coaches with this qualification in Sweden.
The Coach Lift was designed specifically to address this gender imbalance by removing financial barriers and creating more accessible pathways for women to advance their coaching careers.
Sara Pettersson of Svenska Spel also commented on the decision, adding: “For us, it feels natural to be involved and support this initiative to get more trained female football coaches.
“It is very important to contribute to the work of making Swedish football more equal. The Coach Lift is an initiative that greatly contributes to the development going in the right direction.”
