Women in sport breaking down barriers and changing cultures in Port Stephens

And this time the effort is coming from the female participants who are determined to break down barriers and change old-fashioned boys club cultures by promoting all-inclusive practices.

Footy4All is a combined project aimed at increasing participation numbers, improving the wellbeing of women and girls through engagement in sport, encouraging a healthy and supportive network and recruiting and retaining more women in coaching and administrative roles.

The working group includes Port Stephens and Nelson Bay AFL, Medowie Rugby Union, Medowie Football Club and Stockton/Northern Suburbs Cricket Club.

Convenor Beth Innes said that the program had received a $6000 grant from Port Stephens Council to build the skills of women and girls as leaders on and off the field.

"We are very keen to find out how we can include women, from a variety of backgrounds and experiences, in our football programs. Part of our funding will be used to provide child minding at games and training so that single-mums, or mums with limited supports, can still train and play. We can lose up to five or six players a game due to a lack of child minding services," Beth said.

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She said there were benefits of participation in community sports, including improved wellbeing, improved fitness, increased friendships and increased confidence and self-esteem.

"Yet, nearly 50 per cent of girls stop playing sport by 17, and only 52 per cent of women regularly play sport. Participation of girls is often reduced by a lack of self-belief and body changes due to puberty. Participation for women is limited due to childminding responsibilities and due to women placing the needs of the family before their own."

Beth said that providing mentors and role models to encourage new players were of vital importance.

"Footy4All will also engage with vulnerable women, including those with disability, escaping violence and women with mental illness."

She said that boys-only cultures were slowly changing.

"Historically, men developed sports but now we have increasing numbers of women participating and they need to be supported," she said.

"Women are more likely to suffer a higher rate of soft tissue injuries, so we'd like more education around warm-up drills and physio sessions. We want to empower mums to be good role models and focus on the family friendly aspect of sport.

"Yes, there will always be pathways for the elite sports women and girls, but we are talking about the fitness, social and community aspect of sport. We want to promote a play-at-all-costs concept, not win-at-all-costs."

Beth said that the positive outcomes would be spread community wide.

"Everyone wins - the sporting clubs get to field more women's and girls teams which supports the club's viability and sustainability, women get improved health, fitness and wellbeing and girls have increased confidence and self-esteem while make new friendships."

She said that Footy4All was innovative because the football codes were working together rather than competing for members.

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