Meet Kelly Stirton: Head Coach of the CommBank ParaMatildas
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Once a football player herself, Kelly Stirton is now making a remarkable impact as the Head Coach of The CommBank ParaMatildas, Australia’s national para women’s football team.
After suffering two injuries as a player, she turned to coaching and hasn’t looked back since.
Coaching is something that she is really passionate about, making an impact on young women and allowing them to play a sport that they love.
Parafootball is a modified version of the game, specific to athletes with cerebral palsy, acquired brain injury, and symptoms resulting from stroke. The ParaMatildas compete internationally, providing a platform for women with disabilities to showcase their skills on the world stage.
Kelly’s leadership has been pivotal in the growth of the ParaMatildas, both on and off the field. Through her dedication, the team has expanded its roster, offering more girls with cerebral palsy the chance to play football competitively. Her commitment to inclusivity is helping to break down barriers and encourage participation from young women who may have felt overlooked by traditional football leagues.
“The pools have grown since the last World Cup, so we only had 12 players for the last World Cup now we’ve got 30 to choose from,” she says.
“From the last World Cup, we have five or six new players coming through. The girls’ team has only been around for a short time and is slowly growing which is great!”
As The National Para Football Championship tournament takes place in Canberra this weekend, it’s an opportunity for coaches like Kelly and her counterparts from the ParaMatildas and ParaRoos to scout new talent. This tournament is not only a chance for young players with cerebral palsy to showcase their skills but also serves as a potential gateway to international competitions like the World Cup.
Kelly thinks it’s important to keep a brave face for the team and not show your nerves.
“You don’t always want to show it in front of your players,” Kelly says.
“But you’ve got a good range of people behind you, a lot of assistant coaches and things like that. We can debrief and make sure you manage that sort of stress under pressure and make sure the players don’t see that as well, whether that’s just having talks, team chats, or going for walks.”
As the ParaMatildas gain traction, scouting new players is a challenge. The Parafootball league is expanding but finding girls who are both interested and able to compete is not always easy, as there are certain classifications the players have to fit to make the game as fair as possible. Kelly is determined to continue growing the league, despite the pressures that comes with coaching a team on the international stage.
Within Para Football there are varied classifications you’ve got to work towards, with coaches working to have the correct number of combinations of each.
“You’ve got an FT3, FT2, and FT1, discerning between different levels of disability, and you can only have a certain amount on the pitch at once, says Kelly.
”Trying to get those combinations and selecting the right players in those positions is always a challenge.”
With Kelly coaching and steering the team, the Paramatidas are growing and making greater strides towards inclusivity. For now, her focus is raising awareness of cerebral palsy and the amazing athletes of the Parafootball League.
If you would like to find more information about the ParaMatildas and the Para Football league visit paramatildas.com.au
Feature image supplied.
