Top female athletes unite to help future stars

ELITE female athletes are behind a new push to get more girls on the field, joining forces to help stop the widening gap between boys and girls playing sport.

AN elite squad of female athletes, including Collingwood netball and AFLW stars, have joined forces to champion girls’ participation in grassroots sport.

The women from sports as diverse as rugby league to iron woman have come together to encourage girls to play and stay in sport to enhance their health, happiness and wellbeing.

With research showing the gap between boys’ and girls’ participation is widening, they hope to reverse the trend.

Collingwood AFLW and netball player Ashleigh Brazill said the fact females from a range of sports were standing together to encourage girls participation was “very ­powerful’’.

“We’ve all got different stories … but we’re all speaking the same language to encourage young girls to play sport,’’ she said.

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Getting ready to encourage more girls to play sport are Siena Scott, Ruan Sims, Brooke Connell, Ash Brazill, Jazz Mau, Jordan Mercer, Sharni Layton and Sofia Scott. Picture: Alex Coppel.

The cross-code Magpies star said a new community grants program opening today — for clubs to apply for funding towards projects focused on girls’ participation — would aid the cause.

And the continued rise of AFLW and female sporting teams such as the Matildas, Opals and Southern Stars on the world sporting stage should encourage more girls to be active.

“Girls have so many options these days and maybe sport is put on the back burner,’’ Brazill said. “But it’s still cool to play sport, it’s so important to lead a healthy lifestyle.’’

Brazill said her role models growing up were AFL players but future stars were now likely to look up to the likes of Daisy Pearce and Darcy Vescio. “It’s great now there are so many ­female names people can look up to,’’ she said.

“Just for girls to know there is a career path is huge.’’

Collingwood netballer Sharni Layton said body changes, confidence issues and the party scene could cause teenage girls to fall out of love with sport.

“There are so many options for girls now — netball, football, cricket, soccer,’’ she said.

“You don’t need to be a tomboy to play those sports any more. We’re just encouraging girls not to give up.’’

The Home Ground ­Advantage community program will provide grants for projects such as facility upgrades, new equipment, uniforms and player development until August 31.

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