Kyneton District Soccer Club wants to be the first Victorian club to reach equal numbers of male and female players and a new initiative could see them achieve that.
The club last week introduced a GO Soccer Mums program – an initiative of Football Victoria supported by VicHealth – which is a female-only social football program with no experience necessary.
GO Soccer Mums participants have fun, meet new people and learn basic football skills in a social, judgement-free environment.
Celebrating the launch last Friday at the Kyneton Showgrounds as part of VicHealth’s This Girl Can Week, club president Ron Cole spoke of the club’s efforts to boost female participation.
“The club is excited to be part of the This Girl Can program and introduce the GO Soccer Mums program, and piggybacking off the success of the Matildas has been absolutely fantastic,” Mr Cole said.
“We’ve grown our numbers to well over 500 and heading towards 600 in total, and of that we’ve got 45 per cent female participation and we’re really pushing that to get to 50/50.
“We want to be the first club in Victoria to do that.”
GO Soccer Mums facilitator Lenka Thompson said 23 women had registered for the program and she was excited to facilitate a program that allowed women to take time out for themselves.
“As we get older, it’s important that we still look after ourselves, maintain our health and wellbeing and keep physically active,” Ms Thompson said.
“Being with other people going through the same things that you are creates a safe and inclusive environment while having fun at the same time.”
Also at the launch on Friday, Macedon MP and Minister for Health, Mary-Anne Thomas, commended Mr Cole for the work he has done to grow soccer in Kyneton and the Macedon Ranges.
“You lead a club that is really exemplary when it come to the way that you support all comers,” Ms Thomas said.
“You grow the kids, you’ve grown the girls, you’ve supported women and men as well to really grow a big family-friendly club that encourages everyone to get active.
“And working with VicHealth, through the This Girl Can campaign, is all about encouraging women and girls to get more active, more often, and what better way to do that than through this fabulous world game, the beautiful game, football!”
GO Soccer Mums train at the Kyneton Showgrounds every Thursday from 5pm to 6pm.
