Womens Sport Week is in full swing, and Sky Sports looks at the growing role that women are playing in the NFL. Cavaliers Jerseys . At the start of the year, Sarah Thomas was appointed as a full-time official for this season. Although not the first female official, that honour goes to Shannon Eastin who was a replacement referee in 2012, Thomas is no stranger to breaking barriers in American football. She was the first woman to officiate in college football, as well as in a College Bowl game, in 2009. It is also a ground-breaking year for Kathryn Smith, who was hired as Special Teams Quality Control coach with the Buffalo Bills, becoming the first full-time female coach in the NFL. It is Smiths 14th year in the league, having served as an intern and administrative assistant with the New York Jets and Bills, before being appointed as a coach in January. The appointment came at the end of a season where Dr Jen Welter completed a pre-season internship at the Arizona Cardinals, coaching inside linebackers before the team went on to the NFC Championship game later that year. Welter is now a full time linebackers coach at the Dallas Revolution in the American Indoor League. Womens Sport Week Check out all the news from Womens Sport Week, including #myinspirationalwoman Jen Welter served a linebacker coaching internship with the Arizona Cardinals during preseason As the NFL continues to grow as Americas most popular spectator sport, so too does the female viewership. In 2013, the NFL recognised that 45 per cent of its fan base was female, and the viewing figures for women had grown 26 per cent between 2009-2013. We believe were a better organisation when we have diversity, and were making progress on that front, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said following the NFL International series game between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Indianapolis Colts.Were seeing progress not only in coaching and officiating, but we now have four female physicians and six athletic trainers in roles with teams. But we always think we can do better, and I know we will continue to make progress because we will benefit from that diversity. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell believes progress is being made as women are getting more opportunities to progress Sam Rapoport has also been brought in as the leagues director of football development, and has plans in place to support the role of women within teams, as coaches, officials, scouts and trainers as well as within the organisations head office.Carson Tinker, the Jacksonville Jaguars long snapper has spoken with Thomas at training camps, and believes that as a woman she has to go above and beyond to break the stigma of a mans world surrounding the NFL.The NFL is definitely a mans world, so its awesome to be able to come in and earn the respect that they have in the game.They have to work twice as hard, know and do twice as much to prove themselves so theyre definitely deserving of their opportunity.Sky Sports NFL expert Neil Reynolds praised the steps both Smith and Thomas are making in their respective fields. These two ladies are absolute ground-breakers and its good because you dont get to the position that theyre in without proving your worth, and this is a chance for others to follow their lead, he said. The NFL is big on production - its what you bring to the table and both Smith and Thomas have shown that you dont get to that point by accident.Chatting with Sarah at the Jaguars mini-camp, she explained how much any official has to do to reach the NFL. She doesnt do interviews because officials dont do that, and its good that she isnt singled out. She wants to be treated like any other. Shannon Eastin became the first female official in the NFL back in 2012 The NFL can sometimes appear like an old boys club, when the same coaches moves around the league taking their favourite coordinators and coaches with them, but Reynolds believes that the game is changing and doors are being opened.The perception from the outside is that its a closed shop. Thats why what Kathryn Smith is doing can be blazing a trail, and why not have more women coaching in the NFL.The only way now is for these role models to prove their ability at the highest level and if they can do that, then it will only create more opportunities for others. You can watch Englands tour of Bangladesh, plus Premier League football and the Japan Grand Prix on Sky Sports. Upgrade now and enjoy three months at half price! Also See: NFL week four highlights What is Womens Sport Week? Womens Sports Week Headlines NFL week five: what to watch Rodney Hood Jersey . LOUIS -- Joe Thornton and the San Jose Sharks won the matchup of unbeaten teams. Cedi Osman Jersey . Canada was placed in one of the easiest groups during Saturdays live televised draw in Montreal. http://www.authenticcavaliersauthority.com/george-hill-cavaliers-jersey-c-30/ .C. -- Ryan Sproul scored the winner late in double overtime to lift the Grand Rapids Griffins to a 2-1 win over the Abbotsford Heat on Friday in Game 1 of their American Hockey League playoff series.LONDON -- Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere will be out for about six weeks after cracking a bone in his left foot while playing for England. Wilshere was injured following a heavy tackle by Denmark defender Daniel Agger in the first half of Englands 1-0 win at Wembley Stadium on Wednesday. Wilshere received treatment but played on before being substituted in the 59th minute. Arsenal and Englands Football AAssociation both released statements on Thursday saying Wilshere has "sustained a hairline fracture to the navicular bone in his left foot. Kevin Love Cavaliers Jersey. " Wilshere will miss a crucial part of the season for Arsenal, which plays Tottenham, Chelsea, Manchester City and Everton in the Premier League over the next month. The Gunners face Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Tuesday. Wholesale NFL Womens Jerseys China Womens NFL Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Autographed Jerseys Jerseys NFL China Youth NFL Jerseys Wholesale Youth NFL Jerseys Cheap ' ' '