Football continues to power ahead at grassroots in Australia with football’s participation figures hitting 1.95 million thanks in large part to a continuing spike in women and girls’ participation.
In the national football census released today by Football Federation Australia (FFA), the number of females playing the most popular club-based participation sport in the country rose by 11%.
FFA Chief Executive Officer James Johnson welcomed the results of the census that highlighted significant increases across a number of areas, including social football and among coaches and volunteers.
“The release of the 2019 census data is an important milestone for football in Australia and shows that women and girls continue to join our sport in large numbers, with females now representing some 22% of players,” he said.
“There’s been impressive growth in football overall in the past twelve months including a big increase in social football, as our member federations, associations, zones, and clubs work hard to offer a wide range of opportunities for participation.
“I’m particularly pleased that this hard work has resulted in large increases in the numbers of both coaches and volunteers, as they add tremendous value to our game, and I’d like to thank everyone involved for their commitment to our sport.”
Johnson added: “Football is in a unique position in this country, as the largest club-based participation sport, we are also intrinsically connected to every nation on earth through the huge global football family.
“Football provides significant opportunities for international engagement, offers physical and mental health benefits, promotes social cohesion and multicultural inclusion and is a game that can be played by anyone from the under 5s to the over 75s, no matter what your ability.”
Female football is the focus of activities across Australia this week, with rebel Female Football Week being celebrated by seven Member Federations until Sunday 15 March 2020.
This is a nationwide initiative to celebrate the immense growth of women’s football at all levels of the game and acknowledge and promote the important role women play in developing football.
The annual rebel Female Football Awards will be held on Friday 13 March to recognize outstanding achievements by female players, officials, volunteers and administrators within football, leading in to rebel Female Football Round in the Hyundai A-League and Westfield W-League.
Football Victoria and Football NSW will host their rebel Female Football Week from 1-10 May 2020.
2019 Football participation highlights:
- 11% growth in Women & Girls
- 6% overall growth on 2018 participation to 1,957,552
- 35% growth in Social Football
- 36% growth in Futsal
- 5% growth in MiniRoos Club & Kick Off
- 7% increase in Registered Coaches
- 20% increase in Volunteers
The FFA 2019 National Participation Report can be found here.
Western United is excited to announce its participation in the Australian Government Sporting Schools initiative with the club’s new 2020 schools program.
CLICK HERE for all the details.
