Coinciding with the football federation of Australia’s female football week there is a free soccer gala day for girls and women taking place on Sunday March 12 in Mullumbimby.
The Mullumbimby Brunswick Valley Football Club (MBVFC) is excited about the success they’ve had in building their female teams over the last few years.
‘Last year we established a fifth-division female team that was made up of mostly women over 40 who had never kicked a football in their lives,’ said Sharon Scriven, MBVFC female football director.
‘We had so much fun. We didn’t win a game but it was such good fun that it has encouraged other women to get involved and we are starting up a second team this year.’
‘I do find in this area that it is harder to get girls involved,’ said Scriven. ‘I used to live on the central coast and they had really strong female teams.’
‘We are quite successful at getting girls and women to join the MBVFC. We’ve seen major increases in teams since 2015. But it is an issue at a regional level. For example the U/12s team wanted to move up but there was no under-13 or 14 competition and the under-15 was just too far ahead. They stayed in the U/12s with a few other teams that were ready to move up but that wasn’t ideal.
‘I’m trying to also create a network and increase female football across the region. Unfortunately some clubs have had to turn some girls away because they didn’t have enough girls to make a team.’
New mini roos
For the first time this year a girls mini roos team will be getting under way for 6-year olds and up. These are non-competitive games that are lots of fun, said Scriven. ‘Our club is very supportive of female football and it is all run by volunteers.’
The gala day is inviting all existing and aspiring female players to come along.
All ages and levels of experience are welcome from absolute beginners to experienced players. There will be special guests, training drills, mini-games and other fun activities on the day, all currently being carefully choreographed by MBVFC’s team of expert coaches.
Head down to Pine Avenue, Mullumbimby, from 9am till 1pm on Sunday 12 March and join in the fun.
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