On the Front Foot

Championing Female Leaders

Are you a female Player, an Activator, Coach, Umpire, Scorer, Supporter or Volunteer with an interest in unlocking, enhancing and sharing your leadership skills in your Club and beyond? Would you like to see your leadership vision come to light, empowered by a group of like-minded and engaged current and future female leaders? If so, On The Front Foot is for you!

Please note that applications to participate in On the Front Foot for 2024/25 are now closed. Check back for more information soon.

What is On the Front Foot?

On the Front Foot aims to advance the innovation, creativity and leadership capabilities of Future Female Cricket Leaders in Ireland. Delivered in partnership with Carrie On Developing, the programme focuses on personal development and peer-to-peer learning allowing leaders to discuss experiences, challenges, and opportunities in a safe and supportive environment. Participants are partnered with mentors throughout the programme and will engage with experts from a variety of environments both inside sport and from other professional domains.

Vision: Making a significant change and impact on current and future female leaders in cricket to ensure the ongoing development of a network of leaders who are effectively prepared to lead themselves, their people, their teams and our sport.

Principles: On the Front Foot aims to develop leaders who are:

  1. Influential, strategic and empathetic thinkers

  2. Respected in their community and can advocate for better results

  3. Lifelong learners who collaborate to achieve and are driven by continuous improvement

Programme Outline: The four key areas of leadership development covered are:

  1. Exploring Leadership

  2. Knowing Me, Knowing You and Values Led Leadership

  3. Listening and Connecting

  4. Together is Better

On the Front Foot is delivered both online and in-person via monthly 90-minute online Workshops and Forums and 2 in-person event days at the Sport Ireland Institute (full schedule below). Sessions challenge thinking, provide insights and learning on leadership and dig deep into the beliefs, values and perspectives of participants on how we can develop ourselves to be the best leaders for our sport.

Group facilitation, activities and exercises are at the centre of the sessions, encouraging all participants to discuss, challenge and seek clarity on the ‘how’ and the ‘why’ of their individual approach and how we can best meet the needs of ourselves, the people and teams around us and of our sport.

How do I apply to participate?

  • Applications for the 2024/25 season are now closed

  • If you have any questions, please email onthefrontfoot@cricketireland.ie

On the Front Foot 2021 - 2023

Following the successful delivery of the On the Front Foot Web Series, Cricket Ireland partnered with The Sporting Pursuit to deliver an engaging, personal and empowering programme that has seen the successful delivery of three consecutive seasons. Check out the videos below to hear from participants and Mentors about the journey they continue to be part of and the role that the programme has played in their own development and progression as leaders.

On the Front Foot Web Series 2020

In September 2020, Cricket Ireland devised and delivered the first iteration of On the Front Foot via an online web series championing female leaders in sport. Hosted by Marie Crowe, guests shared their sporting and professional leadership journeys along with their thoughts on topics including Allyship, Culture and Collaboration. You can watch the series back by selecting the images below.