Women's world cup cricket final rocked the Australian sporting world before lockdowns and physical distancing came into play. The push is on to make sure female sport is not left behind as club emerge from tough iso conditions. Clubs and associations are encouraged to be creative with summer sports preparing to tap into a potential player boom writes MELANIE WHELAN.
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PLAYING on strong in junior girls has never been in question the Red Caps in getting back to action amid the pandemic.
Wendouree president Tim Argall said the club viewed its marquee senior team's strength, on and off the field, as a pivotal correlation to junior ranks - and this included girls' cricket.
Summer sports across the Central Highlands region have been in a kind of hibernation through the bulk of pandemic lockdowns but have been far from immune to cancelled competition and blocks to training.
Sports Central has been working with sporting clubs and associations to ensure females do not get left behind after great strides to promote avenues for play, particularly in the traditionally male-orientated fields.
Cricket Australia has been touting a likely influx of players taking up the sport this summer, keen to play a team sport after emerging from lockdowns. Female cricket participation grew 11.4 per cent last year and this was before more than 86,000 fans packed the MCG for the Women's World Cup cricket final in early March.
The Red Caps' girls are preparing for a fourth season in action.
Mr Argall said the club had long wanted to launch a female program but the timing was right when Ballarat Cricket Association started an all-girls competition. Cricket Australia offered grants for extra equipment, uniforms and resources.
But Mr Argall said you still needed motivated volunteers to make the girls a priority.
"What we've seen are a lot of dads who've played cricket and they're the ones who are motivated to make it work. There should be absolutely no reason why daughters should not be able to play cricket," Mr Argall said.
"Some girls just really want to play and keep their friendship cohort together. Other have grown in skills and confidence to play in a mixed team with the boys."
Sports Central executive officer Michael Flynn said the widespread cancellation and unusual state of play for many sports this year could create opportunities for innovative summer sports to increase participation, particularly among females.
There is still a lot of unknown in what will happen in sport locally...There's been a lot of discussions with keeping females a priority.
- Michael Flynn, Sports Central executive officer
"There is still a lot of unknown in what will happen in sport locally...There's been a lot of discussions with keeping females a priority," Mr Flynn said.
"We want to make sure supports are available to clubs and associations and to make sure females and junior girls are not left behind."
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Mr Flynn said there had been a lot of work going in from state sporting bodies in developing new programs and social, modified games to introduce females into sport. But he said it was also important to keep a balance in what was possible for clubs hit by the pandemic.
He highlighted basketball for a good job in being creative and flexible, juggling floor space and training, for an equitable return to the game for juniors between lockdowns.
"Cricket and tennis are two good examples of if they market themselves well as safe, accessible and welcoming, there are great benefits that come from participation," Mr Flynn said.
Girls are still outnumbers about five to one in juniors at Ballarat Lawn Tennis Club but this is gradually changing.
Tennis Australia high performance coach Peter Joyce said girls who were a high standard in the game were generally already playing in the region. A new girls-only competition, aimed for girls in years six to nine at school, was about encouraging more girls to enjoy the sport.
"Competition for kids with mixed girls and boys can have its downside," Mr Joyce said. "We want to cater for the mid-range level of girl. A lot of girls just want to get out there and have fun with their friends."
This was a theme when Ballarat Soccer Club president Lucy Brennan spoke to The Courier in August.
Ms Brennan said one key element her club was aware about was the approach to the female game - there needed to be strong pathways for talent, but also the flexibility and environment for women and girls to socialise and have fun without fear of judgement.
VicHealth has found women's participation in organised sport was historically about half the rate of men. Key barriers include a lack of confidence and social pressures in how they should look.
Sports Central's virtual community challenge to get people moving more with eased restrictions is skewed towards female participation. Mr Flynn said it would be interesting after so long in independent exercise how this might adjust back to structured sport.
This is a chance for people to reconnect with friends and realise the value community sport plays and why it is so important.
- Michael Flynn, Sports Central executive officer
"There is still a significant amount of benefit being socially connected in the community and sport is a real social hub," Mr Flynn said. "This is a chance for people to reconnect with friends and realise the value community sport plays and why it is so important."
Mr Flynn said with metropolitan Melbourne still locked up, some state sporting bodies were looking more to opportunities in regional Victoria, including Ballarat and the Central Highlands. He said less mainstream sports like touch football and stand-up paddleboarding had a chance to reach new female demographics.
Ballarat Touch Football Association's Nicole Ashby said a fun, slow introduction to their game was important in reaching women and girls.
The association, still awaiting restriction clearance for action, had already been looking to build on its Switch program. Ms Ashby said the pandemic had reinforced a need for a program like Switch: gentle skills and exercise, like passing backwards, encouraging women to work up a sweat and have fun. There is no match-play.
Switch targeted mums to play with daughters and females returning to exercise for the six-week program last year.
"COVID has a lot of people thinking about 'COVID kilos' they've stacked up from not being as active. A lot of people have been concerned about not being able to use the gym. It does not matter if you are fit," Ms Ashby said.
"This is about the experience and having fun. It's a supporting environment, very non-judgmental and inclusive. It's something different and not a traditional Victorian sport."
Mr Flynn said summer sports could help inspire winter sports in navigating a return to play.
This comes as Ballarat Football League re-branded its female competitions as BFLW in a bid to better align with AFLW and continue to grow the female game.
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