The FA have launched its Higher and Further Education focussed participation initiative – FA Girls’ Football Week – ahead of a week of football sessions at colleges and universities across the country.
Karen Bardsley interacts with participants at at the Girls Football Week launch event.
Photo: Paul Greenwood for FA
After a successful 2016 that saw over 80,000 participants take part in over 1,000 events, 2017 marks the sixth year of the nationwide participation initiative – with the goal of engaging more female students to give football a go.
Taking place from Monday 6 to Sunday 12 November 2017, FA Girls’ Football Week is one of a number of initiatives delivered by The FA as part of its Gameplan for Growth – a pledge to double participation of women and girls in football by 2020 – and offers students a variety of coaching sessions for players of all abilities.
To find out if your college or university is taking part visit FAGirlsFootballWeek.com.
Karen Bardsley and Amy Turner during a training session. Photo: Paul Greenwood for FA
The initiative was launched at Manchester Metropolitan University with the help of England Women’s players Karen Bardsley (Manchester City) and Amy Turner (Liverpool), who took part in a number of FA Girls’ Football Week sessions with students.
Both players were able to pass on their knowledge of the game and experiences of playing football at university with Bardsley currently studying for a Masters in Sport Directorship at Manchester Metropolitan University and Turner previously studying at universities both in the USA and UK.
As part of the week’s activities, buddy health and fitness influencers, Twice the Health, are also calling on students to take part and share their experiences through a ‘squad selfie’ on social media using #JoinOurSquad. See how they got on in a session here .
Karen Bardsley, England and Manchester City, said: “Football is a fun way to stay fit and make new friends. The FA Girls’ Football Week initiative is a perfect, relaxed opportunity to give football a go.”
Kelly Simmons, FA Participation and Development Director, said: “What we want to see is more females of all ages playing the game and we have set ourselves the target of doubling participation by 2020 via our Gameplan for Growth strategy. At the very heart of The FA Girls’ Football Week is giving girls throughout the country the chance to try football, have some fun, keep fit and make a new group of friends. Hopefully girls who don’t play football regularly, will enjoy the sessions and be inspired to take up the game in the future.”
Report courtesy of the FA via Pitch.co.uk
