SANFL will launch its first inclusive football league in May with the aim of breaking down barries

The SANFL will launch its first inclusive football league for people with an intellectual disability — and is already planning for future expansion.

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The SANFL will next month launch its first inclusive football league with the aim of breaking down barriers and giving more people with an intellectual disability the opportunity to play footy.

To be called the SANFL APM Inclusive League, it will build on the former successful C7 competition run by the Adelaide Footy League and will including existing clubs Eastern Park, Goodwood, Kenilworth and Salisbury football clubs, with the addition of the Christies Beach Football Club.

SANFL will commence its first inclusive league in Adelaide next month in a move to give more people with an intellectual disability the opportunity to play footy. Players will include Goce Kuzmanov (Salisbury Magpies), James Swanbury (Goodwood Saints), Alex Linn (Kenilworth Kookaburras), Joshua Couch (Christies Beach Saints) and Drae Bennett (Eastern Park Demons). PHOTO: Dean Martin

SANFL CEO Jake Parkinson said the new league was being established in collaboration with Inclusive Sport SA, with the ultimate goal of expanding to a 10-team meal competition by 2021 with two divisions, as well as the introduction of a female competition in the future.

“We want everyone to have an opportunity to get involved in footy no matter age, gender or ability,” Parkinson said.

“There’s been a tremendous amount of work happen in recent years by volunteers who recognise inclusiveness in sport.

“Now we want to start building on those efforts to create a real football pathway for young players with disability and the expansion of the inclusive league is big step forward in achieving this.”

Australia-wide provider of disability employment services — APM Employment Services — has joined as the league’s naming rights partner and CEO Karen Rainbow said the organisation was proud to help giving more people with disability a chance to be involved in sport and increase their fitness and social participation.

“All too often people with disability are excluded from community and social activities,” Rainbow said.

“Therefore we are very pleased to support the new league so everyone can get out and have fun while establishing new friendships and connections.

“This helps break down barriers and is an important step towards a more inclusive Australia.”

Parkinson said the SANFL would also explore establishing regional conferences throughout SA, with a focus on player development, coaching and assisting community clubs to build their capacity to resource inclusive teams.

Inclusive Sport SA CEO John Cranwell said the evolution of the C7 football competition to the SANFL APM Inclusive League was a step in the right direction to ensuring the competition was not only sustainable, but also had an opportunity to grow.

* For more details on the new SANFL APM Inclusive League and to register at sanfl.com.au/inclusiveleague