For one week starting from May 2 the soccer spotlight will fall on the girls and women who play the round ball game.
Programs and promotions to support females in football will take centre stage for those seven days, named by Football NSW as the 2015 Female Football Week.
From coaching courses and school programs to referees courses, mini roos pilot programs and football clinics, the week will be dedicated to football females and the special roles they play.
Events stretch to all corners of Sydney, including the south west, where football is very popular, both in Macarthur and Liverpool.
On Tuesday, May 5, the Mount Carmel Catholic College’s female football players will be taking part in clinics involving small sided matches, skills and drills between 1.15pm and 2:15pm at the Minto Indoor Sports Stadium.
And then on Friday, May 8, the Football NSW Game Development coaches who run the clinics will be heading to Luddenham Public School between 9am and 11am.
Female football has come a very long way in the last decade, enjoying large increases in player numbers.
This year has seen a 4.3 percent increase to 47,779 players to add to the 1,374 who are coaches, 524 referees and 5,400 volunteers.
It’s no wonder Football NSW is dedicating an entire week to football girls and women.
Adding to those impressive figures is that the Matildas, currently ranked 10th in the FIFA World rankings, will be utilising Valentine Sports Park as a training venue before their departure to Canada, hosts of the 2015 FIFA World Cup from June 5.
A special Matildas open training session will be held on Wednesday, May 6 at Football NSW headquarters, as well as player signings and photo opportunities .
There will also be a special dinner for the squad before their departure for Canada. Another highlight of the week will be the annual Ellyse Perry Challenge on Tuesday, May 12 at Valentine Sports Park.
Aimed at girls aged between 10-14 years, the event leverages football and cricket (the talents Ellyse shares as a consummate sports star) to encourage girls to lead healthy and active lifestyles and will cap off what will be a great festival of football for the female game.
“Female Football Week is a great opportunity to celebrate the opportunities available for female participants to experience our great game from all different viewpoints,’’ says Football NSW Game Development Manager Hayley Todd.
“Female football opportunities are continuously growing and Football NSW are proud to support and acknowledge all females in our sport.
“It’s fantastic to see that we will be venturing out to public schools across Sydney as well as utilising our home of football facility at Glenwood, promoting our wonderful game.
“With the Westfield Matildas set to take part in the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada in June, there is no better time to celebrate and highlight the success of female football in NSW.”
