DARREN MONCRIEFF
Wednesday 25 July 2012
FOOTBALL is no longer the domain of males. Participation rates of women playing the game at community, club and national level around the country have gone through the roof in the past 10 years.
All-girls Auskick begins as early as five years right through to the national senior championships being the highest level for women in football.
The AFL have come to recognise the role women play in football and have provided substantial support -- financial, professional and practical.
Indigenous women's involvement in football has also grown alongside that of the game, particularly in the Northern Territory. And it is there, in Darwin, where women will have access to a high performance academy that will be housed in the new Michael Long NT Thunder Learning and Leadership Centre, which will be completed by the end of next year.
There are five senior women's teams in the Top Ned: St Mary's, Darwin, Waratah, Palmerston and Nightcliff, with several various junior-age teams aligned with those teams.
It is hoped that a clearer pathway will be the result of the new academy.
"Women's participation growth in the Territory has grown tenfold in the last 12 months and we want to provide female participants with equal opportunity and access to the facilities and talent pathways that their male counterparts currently have," said AFLNT game development manager Wayne Walsh.
"It will see budding female players enhance their football skills through development sessions run by AFL High Performance coaches, former AFL stars and the Territory's best female football coaches.
"It will also provide opportunity for the NT female coaching fraternity to further their skills and development through the various levels of coaching courses that are currently offered by the NT Thunder Talent and coaching staff."
The AFL's female development manager, Jan Cooper, said the Territory is a great frontier for female development of the game.
"I have seen firsthand the skills of the Territory girls and providing a formal structured program to get these girls to the next level with their football is fantastic news," she said.
"The facility itself will provide a great base and platform from where women's football can become more professional in the Northern Territory.
The announcement comes on the back of confirmation of $15m in funding for the centre.
AboriginalFootball@westnet.com.au
Last Modified on 25/07/2012 14:10