Northern Suburbs FA sets its sights on kicking more goals in 2023
The Northern Suburbs Football Association (NSFA) is looking to increase participation in the sport right across the board in 2023, with a well-rounded approach to participant growth.
With Australia hosting the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023, female participation numbers are expected to rise significantly.
NSFA CEO Kevin Johnson said ensuring his Association and Clubs were able to meet the likely demand from new female players was a big focus in 2023.
“Our Skellern Cup competition is a big primary school, girls-only competition, that allows us to engage with schools and players who might not have played before,” he said.
“We’ve also appointed a Female Football Development Officer in Kristi Murphy, who has years of experience as a coach within the Association.”
As Female Football Development Officer, Kristi will support the growth of female football in the region through our Female Football Working Group and other initiatives in the NSFA’s Female Football Plan – What’s Best For Her.
However, Johnson says they won’t be forgetting about other areas of growth.
“We’re also looking to grow our successful Summer Program, as well as encouraging more people to get involved in Walking Football for O55s,” he said
Walking Football has seen an explosion in popularity across Australia in recent years, thanks to its low-impact approach to the game and its accessibility for people of all ages. The ever-growing popularity of football – both at a professional and grassroots level – combined with an ageing population seeking new ways to stay fit and healthy, has seen Walking Football evolve into a mainstream activity.
One of the defining factors in Walking Football’s surge in popularity has been the amount of social interaction between participants. As well as being about physical activity, it’s also about companionship and having fun whilst playing the game – which many have found more enjoyable than just going to a gym or jogging around the block.
With age no longer seen as a barrier when it comes to enjoying football, Walking Football looks set to continue growing from strength-to-strength over the coming years – especially with numerous World Cup events taking place around 2023 when Australia hosts the FIFA Women’s World Cup – further boosting attention towards football across all levels and demographics around Australia.
With the new initiatives and programs being introduced, Johnson is confident the NSFA will be able to meet any increase in demand for football across all genders.
