Rita Guarino Delivers Inspiring CPD Webinar for Football NSW Future Female Coaches
Football NSW was proud to host a special online CPD webinar featuring Rita Guarino, one of Italy’s most respected figures in women’s football, as part of the Future Female Coaches Mentoring Program.
The initiative is proudly supported by the NSW Office of Sport’s Empower Her program, which is dedicated to increasing female participation and leadership across sport.
Rita Guarino is a former Italian international striker, earning 99 caps and scoring 35 goals. She represented Italy at two FIFA Women’s World Cups and three UEFA European Championships. Following her playing career, she transitioned into coaching, earning her UEFA ‘A’ Licence and achieving remarkable success. As head coach of Juventus Women from 2017–2021, she led the club to four consecutive Serie A titles, a Coppa Italia, and two Supercoppa wins. From 2021 to 2024, she guided Inter Women to consistent top-five finishes in the league.
Guarino delivered an engaging and insightful session to the program’s mentees, focusing on coaching leadership, building team culture, insights into her coaching philosophy and strategies for navigating the elite football environment. Her experience and passion for the game left a lasting impression on the emerging coaches.
“This was an invaluable opportunity for our future female coaches to learn from one of the game’s most accomplished leaders,” said Hayley Todd, Head of Women’s & Girls at Football NSW.
“Rita’s knowledge, humility, and commitment to coach development deeply resonated with our group, and we’re incredibly grateful to have had her involved in the program.”
Chris Adams, Coach Education Manager at Football NSW, added, “Webinars like this one with Rita, and further CPD opportunities with leading figures from across the global game, are designed to inspire and support our mentees as they grow in confidence and capability. Exposure to international perspectives is a key part of shaping well-rounded, future-ready coaches.
“Having the chance to learn from someone like Rita Guarino was incredibly inspiring,” said Rebekah Stuart, Sydney University Girls Youth League Head Coach.
“Her experiences and insights gave me a fresh perspective on how to approach coaching at a high level. It was not only motivating but also reminded me of the impact we can have as female coaches in shaping the next generation of players.”
The Future Female Coaches Mentoring Program, a new initiative aimed at fostering the next generation of high-performance female coaches within the state’s Talented Player Pathway.
This exclusive program is designed for female coaches who hold a minimum AFC ‘B’ Diploma and are actively working within Football NSW Talented Player Pathway competitions.
This initiative forms part of Football NSW’s broader commitment to creating inclusive, equitable, and high-performance pathways for women in football.
By investing in the development of female coaches at the highest levels, the program seeks to build a stronger and more diverse coaching community that reflects the evolving face of the game.
2025 Future Female Coaches Mentoring Program Mentees:
- Rebekah Stuart – Sydney University FC
- Lauren Phelps – Gladesville Ravens
- Maddison Zahra – Gladesville Ravens
- Amanda Millgate – Hills United FC
The program is being led by Football NSW Legacy Scholarship Alumni and current Wellington Phoenix FC Interim Head Coach Amy Shepherd.
For more information on the program and upcoming initiatives, visit footballnsw.com.au.
