AFL Victoria’s Youth Girls competition, specifically designed for girls aged 13 to 18, emphasises fun, fitness and friendship in a family friendly environment through a community football competition at central venues around Melbourne and beyond. Managed by AFL Victoria and supported by local councils, the AFL, VicHealth, and the Department of Sport and Recreation Victoria since 2004, it gives girls the opportunity to play in a community football competition. The Youth Girls program welcomes teams and players from all schools, community football clubs and leagues.
In 2009 around 700 girls will play in up to six competitions across Geelong and Bendigo, and Melbourne’s northern, eastern, western and south eastern suburbs.
Nominations for AFL Victoria’s 2009 competitions close on February 28.
Nearly all Youth Girls teams have been established by junior football clubs keen to capitalise on the fastest growing segment of our sport. With 54% growth last year in female participation nationally, bringing girls to junior football clubs as players is helping clubs to grow their on and off field membership like never before.
Girls and boys can participate in junior football in a mixed sex environment until the age of 14. Having a record number (nearly 700) of girls playing junior football across Victorian junior leagues creates an even greater demand for all female teams for teenage girls.
The North Bendigo Junior Football Club introduced their Youth Girls team in 2007. With numbers amongst their junior ranks dwindling, they recruited girls to their Under 12 and Under 13.5 teams. When the girls were too old to play against boys the North Bendigo JFC decided to establish a Youth Girls team to ensure that those girls and their families remained an important part of their club. They are now recruiting the brothers of girls who’ve joined their Youth Girls team to play in their junior teams.
The Narre South Lions Junior Football Club often found that when their junior girls turned 14 they either gave up football or moved to another club. The Narre South Lions JFC established a Youth Girls team in 2006 to give girls the opportunity to continue playing football with all sides wearing the same guernsey.
Narre South Lions JFC President, Peter Gajanovic said,
‘The girls are a crucial team to the club, they have been fantastic. The enthusiasm and keenness of the girls is no different to the boys. They are very much apart of the club and are integral to everything we do’’
The club currently has a number of girls participating in both junior football and Auskick. The presence of a strong pathway for girls has been a fantastic benefit to the club,
‘The younger girls can definitely see evidence of a pathway now that we have the Youth Girls team at the club. We currently has several girls playing in the Under 13’s who are very excited about playing Youth Girls next year – and that is fantastic, knowing they can continue playing a game they love’ Gajanovic said.
Several of the Youth Girls also assist with Auskick on Saturday mornings which is a fantastic help to the club but also provides the younger girls and boys with great role models.
The Youth Girls program now has a comprehensive talented player pathway which provides exciting interleague and Victorian representative opportunities. In 2008 the annual Victorian U18 Youth Girls Championships were integrated with the Metropolitan (Boys’) Junior Championships, giving both boys and girls the opportunity to support each in their representative pursuits.
The annual Under 18 Youth Girls Interstate Challenge between Victoria and Queensland will include a Western Australian, ACT and Papua New Guinean team in the next few years to create a national carnival.
In 2008, AFL Victoria’s Youth Girls Academy was established, with support from the Essendon Football Club, providing Victoria’s thirty most promising Youth Girls with on and off field development opportunities. On field sessions with Jason McCartney, Jarrod Molloy, Leon Harris and Darren Flannigan provided the girls with specialist coaching to fast track their playing ability. Off field sessions targeted drug and alcohol awareness, driver behaviour, media skills and managing healthy relationships. Players completed a basic umpiring course, a level 1 coaching accreditation, and enjoyed a victory over the Australian Defence Forces on the MCG.
Clubs interested in nominating a team for a Youth Girls competition in 2009 should contact AFL Victoria's Female Football Development Manager for more information. Additionally, AFL Victoria’s Youth Girls Club Information Guide includes information on the program and on how to establish a team.
Last Modified on 23/02/2009 13:01