AFCW Foundation supports FA Girls' Football Week
Our AFC Wimbledon Foundation coaches will be getting out into the community this weekend to support an initiative by the FA to get more girls participating in football.
As part of the FA’s Girls’ Football Week (5-11 October), the Foundation will be running a coaching session for girls only at Wimbledon Park on Saturday (9.30 am – 10.30 am for Under-16s and 10.30 am – 11.30 am for over 16s). The coaching sessions will continue every Saturday until 12 December.
It’s just £2 to take part and girls can turn up on the day or contact Emma Connor, Football Development Officer for Female and Disability at the AFC Wimbledon Foundation.
E-mail: femalefootball@afcwimbledonfoundation.org.uk .
On Sunday at Southfields Academy, the AFC Wimbledon Foundation will be holding a coaching session for female Down's Syndrome footballers. In association with the Football League Trust, our Foundation have already held taster sessions with 11 players signed up so far. The coaching session runs from 12.30 pm until 1.30 pm and it’s just £3 to take part.
Contact Emma for information using the e-mail address above or on 078245 36545.
AFC Wimbledon Foundation started successfully using great facilities at Southfields Academy in Wandsworth during the summer for its holiday courses for school children.
The FA has been promoting its Girls’ Football Week to encourage more educational institutions to run female-specific football sessions.
This year the programme has been extended to include primary and secondary schools, colleges and universities, along with clubs and community groups who are also invited to participate.
In 2014, more than 2,000 people took part in the sessions across 80 institutions. It is aimed that this year, 5,000 girls and women will play football during the week.
Women’s football is the largest female team sport in the country and the third largest team sport after men’s football and cricket. During the FIFA Women’s World Cup, The FA launched #WeCanPlay, a campaign to encourage more females to play football.
FA women’s football national project manager Polly Fildes said: “This year has seen real change and momentum in women’s football, especially with the success of the Lionesses at the World Cup, and we wanted to build on that by extending the programme.
“We want as many schools, colleges and universities to provide opportunities for their female students to play football during our national week of action and we have created the tools and materials provided to make it as easy as possible for them to do so.
“We have seen some real success stories across the country with our Women’s Football Weeks, with women not just trying, but continuing to play football, and we’re hoping for the same next month.
"We may even find the next generation of Lionesses."