The Women in Sports Committee was launched in 2019 by the International Hockey Federation. The overall aim of the Women in Sports Committee is to assist the Executive Board of FIH to raise awareness about gender equality, inclusion and promote diversity in sports practice and governance.
Its responsibilities embed:
- Advocacy on gender equality issues in hockey;
- Advocacy for increased participation of women in hockey and in leadership positions, promoting the rights and well-being of women in and through sport;
- Development and dissemination of FIH’s position on women and sport issues, as well as monitoring and frequent reporting on the progress towards meeting gender equality;
- Promotion of the use of sport as a tool for gender equality and empowerment as well as raising awareness of harassment and abuse in hockey through Safeguarding processes;
- Influence to normalise gender equality measures or promote specific policies on the international hockey agenda;
- Reporting to identify and support women for decision-making positions in hockey
- Support in the development of women’s skills in management and leadership within hockey through training and mentoring;
- Action in raising awareness about gender equality in their respective domains;
- Recommendation of relevant changes in the FIH Gender Equality Policy.
Brief outline of the Women in Sports Committee
Duration
Ongoing
Frequency
Once a year
Funding
IHF funding
Budget
N/A
Key elements
Target
Women and men
Country of origin
Switzerland
Country/Region of implementation
International
Number of participants
10 members
Core objective of the Programme
☐ Women empowerment (identifying barriers and working on strengths, creating a community)
☒ Supporting organizational change (strategy for developing diversity, implementation of specific policies, support to change makers)
☐ Allies buy-in and support (mentors, men championing)
☐ External Scrutiny (Pledge board, Indicators, celebration of success…)
☐ Other => Please specify:
Actions implemented
☒ Internal Diversity & Inclusion Strategy for a safe workplace with equal rights: Will develop and implement a FIH Women in Sport Strategy, enable cooperation with other international sport federations in regular exchange and knowledge, as well as continue to oversee gender equality in the Executive Board and recommend changes.
☐ Commitment of men - please specify: 20% men included in the program
☐ Personal development training
☐ Role model highlighted
☐ Networking (women network, men network or mixed)
☐ Mentoring (unique or mixed gender, please specify)
☐ Coaching (ability to inspire and grow people/Foster emulation/ Being influential)
☐ Events (sharing with other companies) - please specify:
☐ Other - please specify:
Format
☐ Online e-learning Module
☐ Online seminar
☒ Workshops
☒ Conference
☐ Self-Assessment tool
☐ Consolidated educational/training programme
☒ Other, please specify: Yearly meeting and conference calls in-between will establish and maintain contacts with people responsible for women’s hockey in each national association and work with other international federations to develop strategies
Identified Key Success Factors
- Initiated by the board
- Included in a strategic development plan
Transferable bites/elements
- Include cross-sport collaboration
- Develop a clear mandate for the Committee
- Tasked to assist the Executive Board
Testimonials
Source of information: Interview + Online documentation
An initiative selected as a case study of the SWinG library of leadership development initiatives.
