JUNIOR PARTICIPATION

Junior participation in football remains vital to the future growth prospects of the sport as a whole. Football NSW, together with Football Australia, continue to support the participation of juniors through various programs and initiatives.

MiniRoos Club Football

2022 saw more than 95,000 players up to the age of 12 sign up with their local club to participate in MiniRoos Football across NSW.

MiniRoos Club Football is the home of Australia’s largest network of grassroots football clubs who provide opportunities for boys and girls of all abilities to play small-sided games at the weekend.

Of the 95,000 children registered to play during the Winter club football season, 25,000 were female (26%), representing an increase of 1% in the proportion of female MiniRoos players. This growth at the foundations of girls football is vital as FNSW works towards the goal of achieving 50/50 gender equity in participation.

MiniRoos Kick-Off

A fun, safe introductory program designed for new players aged between 4 and 9, the MiniRoos Kick-Off program provides a great way to learn football.

The program consists of weekly 45-minute sessions that build skills through games and simple drills delivered in an engaging and inclusive environment, without the weekend game.

2022 saw over 1,500 registrations in the program, and FNSW are looking forward to kicking-off again in the new year.

Inflatable Activations

Football NSW visited more than 60 local club presentation days, come and try days, as well as promotional events in 2022. In 2023, FNSW look forward to supporting even more local club events throughout the season as a means of engaging current participants and enticing new players to join the football family.

Football NSW MiniRoos School Program

Football NSW delivered 29 MiniRoos Schools Programs at schools across NSW in 2022. Based off the MiniRoos introductory Kick-Off program, students were able to experience the joy of being a MiniRoo in their school environment. Programs included weekly skills sessions that promote game-based activities with emphasis on sparking a love for football.

Football NSW Gala Days

Football NSW conducts Gala Days throughout the state, giving students the opportunity to participate in small-sided games in a noncompetitive, safe environment. In celebration of 500 days to go until the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, FNSW delivered a mini–World Cup event alongside Football Australia, with plans in place to deliver many more in 2023 as the countdown continues.

Sporting Schools

Sporting Schools is an Australian Government Initiative designed to help schools to increase children’s participation in sport, and to connect them with community sporting opportunities. Football Australia delivers these programs, but Football NSW has worked to connect the programs being conducted in schools with their local Associations to ensure that we can drive conversion from school programs to club registrations.