More than 60 youngsters from country WA were in Perth this week for a three-day regional girls training camp at the Sam Kerr Football Centre.
Football West hosted the camp, which was open to girls aged 12-17.
Players from across the state attended including from Broome, Bunbury, Albany, Margaret River, Busselton, Karratha, Albany, Geraldton, Newman, Carnarvon and Kalgoorlie.
As well as the chance for players to develop their football skills, there was a mindset workshop for young leaders, an appearance from Perth Glory A League Women’s players, a “world cup” tournament and a tour of the Sam Kerr Football Centre.
The camp was led by Female Football and Advocacy - Manager Tash Rigby, Regional Lead Tanya Amazzini and Club Changer Lead Karen Henessy.
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Ms Amazzini said: “In hosting this camp, we wanted to provide regional girls with the opportunity to develop their skills, knowledge, and confidence. There can often be a lack of opportunity, resources and access within the regions due to their remote locations, so it is incredibly important to provide regional players with opportunities such as this.”
Ms Rigby said: “It is important to us to provide regional players with the chance to play against other girls as they will often be playing in mixed teams in their region. It was a great opportunity for the players to be coached by an all-female coaching staff and to train at Sam Kerr Football Centre with access to some of the best facilities in the state.
"We held the sessions early in the morning to avoid the extreme heat and it worked perfectly.
“Providing joyful, inclusive and memorable opportunities for young female players at this peak drop-out age is important in keeping them in the game. It demonstrates to young regional girls and their parents that there is an important place for them in the sport and that their participation is valued equally."
She added: “A highlight of the camp was the opportunity for the regional girls to meet two A-League Women’s players, Olvia Wood and Kelli Brown. It was special to be able to connect these young players with their role models and to give them an opportunity to ask questions about their own unique journeys.”
The Regional Girls Perth Training Camp was supported by the Female Community Legacy Program and funded by the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries. The project aims to enhance club governance, and capability and support female participation across all areas of football, in both metro and regional WA.
