Stawell Soccer Club was awarded funding to help push their vision for more females to join the sport.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
In the South West Victorian Football Association females are permitted to compete with males in the standard competition.
Junior age groups actively promote the inclusion of both boys and girls.
Committee members of the club identified introducing more females to the sport was an area of growth for the club.
President Jason Oosthuizen said the funding received through the VicHealth grant will allow the club to reach out to female participants in the area and also help once they join the club.
"We are looking at a starting a soccer mum's group," he said.
"Mums of children already playing can come and learn some skills and do some light training while having fun.
"We also want to encourage more junior females to come and play at the club.
"Traditionally soccer could be seen as a boys sport, but the world is really changing and from the very first meeting we conducted before the club was formed, we identified the need to have avenues to include both male and females in the sport."
About six females have expressed an interest in the soccer mum's group.
"Those who have expressed interest are mothers within the club but others are just friends who are happy to come and have a run around," Oosthuizen said.
"We have one female who is wanting to play after some training sessions.
"We also host a mini roos session on Friday nights - those sessions are aimed at young girls.
"It's definitely growing but we're committed to building female participation within the club at any level."
This new initiative from the club is built around awareness, but also how much success the club has already shown in its first year of affiliation.
"We've had success on and off the field in our first season," Oosthuizen said.
"It's halfway through our first season and we're currently sitting second on the ladder and had a two all draw against the reigning premiers last week.
"It's been amazing how everyone has come together and got us to where we are. To also have success and be rewarded for effort on the field is an extra bonus."
Oosthuizen said part of the club culture which was set from the first "ideas" meeting was around the club supporting all grades.
"The committee expects all players when available to support the juniors and the juniors to support the seniors in return," he said.
"Whether that's on game day or at training, we want our club as a whole moving in the same direction all the time and all of our members and supporters to be part of this incredible journey."
While you're with us, you can now receive updates straight to your inbox each Friday morning from the Stawell Times-News. To make sure you're up-to-date with all the news from across the Northern Grampians shire, sign up here.