The Ballarat & District Soccer Association and Sports Central are excited to announce that we have partnered to deliver a primary school-based soccer program exclusively for girls – Mini Matildas!
Mini Matildas will provide girls with a free, fun, and engaging introduction to soccer through a primary school-based program and a pathway to the 2024 Mini Matildas Cup and affiliated clubs fielding teams in the Ballarat & District Soccer Association – 2024 Under 12 Girls Competition.
What’s involved?
- A four-week program delivered by coaches from Sports Central at schools throughout Term 4 or Term 1 in the lead up to the 2024 season
- Targeted at Year 4 and 5 students in Term 4, and Year 5 and 6 students in Term 1, as these students will be eligible to play in the 2024 Under 12 Girls Competition
- 45-minute sessions offering a fun and engaging introduction to soccer
- Up to 15 students per program, with the possibility of delivering a second program at participating schools if there is enough demand
- Sessions can be delivered in the morning during class time, at lunchtime, in the afternoon during class time, or afterschool
The Ballarat & District Soccer Association and its affiliated clubs, and Sports Central will work together to conduct the 2024 Mini Matildas Cup which will see participating Mini Matildas schools come together for a carnival to be held in March.
Sports Central Programs Manager, Andrew Milligan said “we are very pleased to be partnering with the Ballarat & District Soccer Association. We facilitated the development of the Ballarat & District Soccer Association – Women and Girls Participation Strategy 2023-2026 which was finalised earlier this year and now we have launched Mini Matildas. The Ballarat & District Soccer Association board understands the importance of delivering competitions and programs which grow the number of primary school aged girls playing the game. Mini Matildas will provide girls from up to 20 primary schools with a fun and engaging introduction to soccer and a pathway for ongoing participation.”
Herman Bogers, President of the Ballarat & District Soccer Association said “we are committed to growing participation for women and girls. We receive numerous calls from parents prior to the commencement of each season looking for opportunities for their daughters to play and we see this increasing significantly following the success of the Matildas at the Women’s World Cup. Working with our clubs and Sports Central, we are determined to build a sustainable competition pathway for girls and consolidate our senior women’s competition. The Mini Matildas program will play an important role in this growth.”
With many Ballarat & District Soccer Association affiliated clubs focused on growing girls’ participation over the next few years, primary schools in Bacchus Marsh, Ballarat, Creswick, Daylesford, and Hepburn are invited to express their interest in participating in Mini Matildas.
For further information, contact Caitlin Johnston Caitlin on 5331 6966 or caitlinj@sportscentral.org.au.