Rebates galore as Blacktown District Soccer FA welcomes players back
The Blacktown & Districts Soccer Football Association (BDSFA) is welcoming players back to football with open arms in 2022, offering over $200,000 in rebates to 2021 players who return to the sport this year.
This sizeable investment in ensuring that players return to Australia’s most popular participation sport was a considered decision of the BDSFA Board, according to General Manager Adam Fairley, who said the Association wanted to do everything in its power to help ensure that clubs could count on the return of last season’s players.
“Our main focus is retention and having our 2021 players return to their club and to football in general,” he said.
“It’s been two tough years for the football family and returning players turning 5-to-11 in 2022 will receive a $10 rebate, 12-17-year-olds will receive $15 and those who are 18 and over will receive $40.
“If every player from last year returns, that’s the equivalent of over $200,000 in rebates.”
The BDSFA’s 24 clubs cater to over 10,000 players, with the Association boasting a proud history going back over 40 years of delivering an exciting and accessible football competition to the region.
With competitions starting for players as young as five and going up to over-35s, there really is a team and a competition for all players in Blacktown to participate in.
A large portion of the Association’s growth over the last few years has been attributed to the rise and rise of the women’s game in Australia.
In 2022, the BDSFA’s women’s competition, known as the Phoenix League, will again be run in conjunction with the Granville Districts Soccer Football Association. Entering its 6th season, the Phoenix League aims to increase participation in female only competitions, provide competitions that match the skill level of those teams playing within them, provide a positive experience for all participants, spectators, and the like, provide strong governance for all participants and collate resources ensuring a better experience for all participants.
“Females are pleasingly becoming a larger percentage of our player base,” Fairley said.
“With the Women’s World Cup being hosted in Australia and New Zealand in 2023, everyone is predicting the female game will continue to grow and we are always looking for ways to attract female footballers to our clubs.”
However, diversity and inclusion doesn’t stop there for Fairley and the BDSFA.
“Football is for all. Blacktown is a diverse city with a large, growing population, with a lot of the growth coming from people born overseas,” he said.
“We are looking to embrace the many cultures within our city and we welcome players to come on board regardless of nationality or gender to play our game.”
To reach these growing population bases within the city, the BDSFA will be launching a marketing campaign across different segments of the Association which can then be promoted to community leaders from various backgrounds and cultures to reach potential players within their respective communities.
Players based in Blacktown and surrounds can find their local club by simply heading to the BDSFA website and getting in touch with their local clubs.
Whether experienced players or complete novices, new and returning players can head to https://bdsfa.com/clubs/ to find their football home.
Check out which clubs you can register for in the BDSFA area below.
