PZPN

The additional funding for clubs stems from the introduction of a prize money mechanism based on final positions in the tables of the various competitions. On 27 March, the Management Board of the Polish Football Association adopted a resolution increasing the prize money for finishes in the Women's Orlen Ekstraliiga. A similar system has also been introduced in the Women's Orlen 1 Liga. As a result of this decision, 24 clubs will receive an additional PLN 539,000 prize money. 

"The adopted resolution extending - following the English model - the mechanism of rewarding clubs for their position in the highest competition class to all participants intends to make sporting competition more attractive. At the same time, it is evidence of a gradual improvement in standards in club competitions. The introduction of an analogous mechanism in the Women's Orlen 1 Liga will, in turn, intensify the rivalry for promotion to the highest level of the competition, while enabling clubs to adapt to the licensing requirements applicable in the Women's Orlen Ekstraliga. In the long term, this and similar initiatives regarding cooperation with clubs are expected to contribute to professionalisation, which is one of the four key areas of the 'Women's Football Strategy in Poland for 2022-2026' approved last November," argues Łukasz Wachowski, secretary general of the Polish Football Association. 

From the 2022/2023 season onwards, depending on the position taken in the final Women's Orlen Ekstraliga and the Women's Orlen 1 Liga table, individual clubs will receive additional prize money in the amount of: 

Summary of financial support provided to Women's Orlen Ekstraliga clubs effective from the 2022/2023 season: 

Summary of financial support provided to Women's Orlen 1 Liga clubs effective from the 2022/2023 season: 

In addition to the above support, Women's Orlen Ekstraliga and Orlen 1 Liga clubs owning teams in the Central Junior Women's League can also benefit from financial support for their activities. All clubs - regardless of the competition level in which they play - also benefit from the Women's Club Bonus Programme, under which they receive financial bonuses for the participation of their players in Polish national team camps - both for senior and youth team camps: under-17 and under-19. The amount of support in the latest, third edition of the programme amounted to PLN one million (detailed figures are available HERE).  

What is more, the Polish Football Association covers 100 of the most talented female players of the above-mentioned national teams with health insurance. These players are financially protected in the event of an injury, whether it happens during a national team training camp or during a training session or a match at the club. All Orlen Ekstraliga clubs also use the Load Monitoring System (GPS) provided to them free of charge by the Polish Football Association. 

Now, all these benefits are supplemented by additional financial support for the Women's Orlen Ekstraliga and Orlen 1 Liga clubs. This is another of the projects implemented in connection with the strategy, including the acquisition of a title sponsor for the women's games. PKN ORLEN, which has so far been involved in sponsoring the national team, has additionally opened up to club competitions as part of its extended cooperation. 

Further joint initiatives are currently being developed to help implement the 'Women's Football Strategy in Poland for 2022-2026' in the four key development areas defined therein.