There's a growing number of girls lacing up their soccer boots at Wentworth Falls Football Club.
And it's all part of a deliberate push by the Upper Mountains club to take a proactive role in encouraging team sports for girls.
Just three years ago, there were 61 female players - 17 per cent of the total registered at the club, but it has grown steadily. In 2021, 109 players were female - one quarter of the total registered for the season.
On December 19, the club held a girls soccer day at their home ground of Pitt Park to provide an opportunity for local girls to try out the sport. The ground also recently opened its new $1.4 million clubhouse after multiple grants and fundraising.
"It was a successful day where more that 50 local girls of all different ages attended," Isabel Arnaiz, is one of two female club coordinators, said.
"WFFC is starting to be known as the place to go for girls' soccer in the mid and Upper Mountains. Their enrolment numbers for girls have increased over the years as more girls start to discover soccer in the Blue Mountains.
"The club has a good reputation with many of their players playing in representative teams and participating in the development of world class players such as Leah Blaney who played in FIFA.
Arnaiz, together with Randy Lynch, co-ordinated the day. The U16 girl's captain Poppy Rushton ran the games for the 13 to 16 year olds and did a "fantastic job", Arnaiz said.
Arnaiz said encouraging girls into team sport was important, "because of all its associated benefits including making new connections, having fun, learning teamwork/leadership skills, and increasing confidence. This is in addition to getting fit".
She said the club members had "seen first hand how beneficial soccer is to their daughters. For these reasons we would like to increase awareness about team sport participation in the Blue Mountains community".
Registrations for the 2022 season are now open.
"If your daughter is interested in playing soccer this year, you will be able to register her via http://www.playfootball.com.au/ or you can also join us during open day on the 6th of February, at Pitt Park, were we can help you through the registration process."
