Bradbury jump on Bandwagon

Bradbury Bears are jumping on the bandwagon in a big way, being one of the most prominent clubs in the promotion of female soccer in the Macarthur area.

With soccer having the highest growth in female sport, Tina Meyer says “there’s been real growth in the area, a real recognition [of] women’s football”

The committee last year came up with a five-year plan, one aspect of which was to “really promote women’s spccer and allow it to grow” according to the club president Tina Meyer (picuted above left along with Jo-Ann Livingston, female Liason officer for the Macarthur Referees Association and coahc of all age ladies divsion 2)

The Ambarvale based club played a big part in getting the Under18s competion off the ground this year, despite the low number of only five clubs.

Together with the association, Bradbury are looking to start up an Under12 girls competition next year, and possibly an Under21s and over 30s.

Not only are they promoting equality between the players, but they are also encouraging more females, in particular mums, to become coaches. As a result of this, the club has seen a growth in the number of female coaches this season.

Bradbury has also started internal coaching clinics this year in order to stregthen the quality of female soccer in the region.

Run by the coaching coordiantor, onw or two teams are nominated for training and all of the club’s coaches are made aware of the time. These coaching clinics are invaluable for picking up helpful hints and tips

Jo-Ann Livingston, a coach within the Bradbury lub, beleives that ideas such as these prove that the Bears are “definitely heading in the right direction”.

Following Bradbury’s leadership, the association has formed a sub-committee which will look at coordinating female soccer in the area from next year onwards.

Already there are plans to promote female soccer throughout the local area before the end of this season.