Youth Girls Come & Try sessions planned
With so many local girls wanting to play footy, AFL North Coast will be introducing a Youth Girls Under 14 age group in the 2022 season to strengthen the pathway from Auskick through Youth Girls Under 17 and into the Women’s competition.
Demand is already very high at most Junior clubs for this second age group. To help clubs recruit additional players, the AFL Game Development team will be running a series of female only Come & Try sessions in conjunction with the clubs. These sessions are open to all girls aged 16 and under, with those who fall outside the ages of the Youth Girls Under 14 competition to be directed to alternatives.
Details of the confirmed sessions are:
Sawtell Toormina Saints
Richardson Park, Sawtell on Tuesday 7 December at 4:45pm
Port Macquarie Magpies
Wayne Richards Park, Port Macquarie on Wednesday 8 December at 4:30pm
Coffs Harbour Breakers
Jetty Oval, Coffs Harbour on Wednesday 8th December at 4:30pm
Further sessions will be organised in the new year as part of the lead-in to the season. With each of the Junior clubs in the competition having committed to establishing a Youth Girls Under 14 team, sessions will be run in conjunction with each of these clubs. Stay tuned to the website for more details.
Matt Crawley, Northern NSW Development Lead, said the response to female footy in the region has been overwhelming. “Girls are flocking to footy across the region. Many want to play in girls only competitions, which is completely understandable, so we know that starting this Under 14 age group will see the next wave of new participants into the sport.
“At the elite level, the AFLW competition will get underway in January and, with a significant proportion of matches being broadcast on free to air TV, we know that this will help generate more interest. Local girls will see the athleticism of the elite players and will realise that their existing skill set from other sports will be readily transferable to footy.
“Add to that the chance to be involved in a sport that requires more physical contact and the girls will be hooked!”
The sessions will be run by female AFL NSW/ACT Development Officers together with female club representatives and will include skill development as well as game play.
For more information contact Matt Crawley at matthew.crawley@afl.com.au.
