Matildas Assistant Coach shares secrets to success with Gen32 Coaches

29 May 2024

The last year has been a roller coaster for Matildas Assistant Coach Mel Andreatta, and the ride won’t be stopping anytime soon, with the Paris 2024 Olympic Games now just weeks away.

Matildas Assistant Mel Andreatta with Gen32 Coaches on the Gold Coast, April 2024.

But despite her busy schedule, Andreatta recently took time out to share her experiences and guidance with AIS Gen32 Coaches, many of whom are nearing graduation after three years together.

In a session on the Gold Coast with 19 coaches from 16 sports, Andreatta, who is also Head Coach of the Australian U-23 Team, shared how a similar AIS program helped forge her own coaching journey.

“That AIS program had a massive impact on me, it was a game changer,” Andreatta said of her time in the program in 2018-19.

“I'm forever grateful for the experiences that I gained from that time and the knowledge and skills that still help me today to move forward as a leader in football and at Paris.

“I was a coach starting out and one of the few females on the football landscape. I felt often quite alone and isolated and got myself in a cycle of thinking that the experiences I was having were mine alone, and not shared by others.

“In coming to the AIS and working with other coaches from other systems in other sports I learned that I wasn't alone. And often the experiences that we were having in the high performance environment are not unique. Sharing those experiences and problem solving with other coaches was awesome for me and it strengthened my skills and gave me new knowledge to move forward in sport and as a leader in sport.”

Matildas Assistant coach Mel Andreatta

Andretta found many similarities between her program and AIS Gen32, which employs aspiring pathway and early career coaches within high performance sport in a bid to increase the number and diversity of coaches in Australian sport.

“I love spending time with coaches, and I want to give back to the next generation of coaches and give them the same opportunity and share my experiences as well to help them and elevate them on their journey,” she said.

“I think that's what sport is all about and that's what Australians are all about, helping each other and lifting each other up.

Matildas 'heart of the nation' during the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.

Andreatta is back in action with the Matildas this week, with the team playing two friendlies against China in Adelaide and Sydney. With the matches the final hit-outs before the Games begin with the first pool match against Germany on July 26, Andreatta said it’s an important time to take stock ahead of Paris.

“The goal for us is to keep improving, we’ve finished fourth a couple of times now in major tournaments at Tokyo and at the World Cup.”

“This group of players are always striving to go one better. And I think that's their ultimate goal. But what we know as well is that we want to continue inspiring the next generation of footballers? in the way that we play and the way that we conduct ourselves. So, either way, I think there's something special on the way in Paris.”

Read more about the AIS Gen32 Program here, or learn about how Gen32 is helping Australian Women’s Rugby 7s Assistant Coach Emilee Barton prepare for Paris here.