Sport
2 August, 2024
All girls Auskick starting up
Maryborough Auskick is inviting local girls to kickstart their love of football at their All Girls Auskick Centre.
The five-week program provides an introduction to football for girls between five and 12 in a comfortable and exciting way.
According to the Girls Community Football Acquisition and Retention Research Summary reported in 2022, 57 percent of girls who don’t plan to continue playing football said there were not enough girls to play with, particularly for five to nine-year-olds.
The report also states that parents believe the ability to play with friends in an encouraging environment are key factors in retaining numbers.
According to Maryborough Auskick coordinator Jake Meyer, the program tackles these issues by fostering a positive atmosphere for girls to enjoy the game.
“I want to see more girls in footy, having a couple of daughters of my own I want somewhere where they can grow up and play footy,” he said.
“They get to enjoy it with their friends, I have just finished up with the mixed Auskick and I’ve got 48 kids in that, it’s fitness, they get out there and they aren’t sitting on screens.
“Watching the kids develop as people and seeing the excitement on their faces when they are out there is amazing.”
The Central Goldfields only has one women’s football team, with Carisbrook playing in the Ballarat Football Netball League at the senior and under 16 level.
Meyer said he is hopeful that the All Girls Auskick and the continued development of the Lady Redbacks will mark more local growth in women’s football.
“Back in the day the girls never really got a chance to have a go in football, but with women’s footy growing massively with the AFLW coming in, I want to see all these young girls get the opportunity like the boys have to play footy,” he said.
“I hope to see women’s footy booming in the Central Goldfields shortly — if anyone wants to come and try, reach out and they can try the first session for free.”
Maryborough All Girls Auskick starts tonight at Princes Park from 4 to 5 pm. For more information, and to register, call Jake Meyer on 0436 028 314.