Country Clubs are being encouraged to join the Women and Girls Community Football Charter with the aim to create welcoming, safe and inclusive environments for women and girls. 

Cottesloe Junior Football Club is the first WA club to join the Women and Girls Community Football Charter. 

By becoming a signatory, Cottesloe JFC is working to ensure their community football environments are welcoming, safe and inclusive for women and girls which is guided by the Charter’s four principles – opportunity, visibility, access and investment. 

Executive Manager Country Football, Facilities and Affiliates, Brent Hedley states, 

“This Charter is a terrific initiative to expand our football programs to women and girls.

The process allows clubs to implement short-term strategies to improve their environment, making football more inclusive and accessible for all.

We strongly encourage regional clubs across the state to get involved.”

Cottesloe JFC Vice President, Lara Bucher said the Charter is a great initiative to encourage more women and girls to take part in community football. 

“In order for Cottesloe JFC to attract and retain female players, we need to ensure that our club is a safe, welcoming and fun place for our players to belong,” Bucher said.  

“We want all of our players to feel that they are special and to have a sense of ownership and pride around what we do to make everyone feel included.   

“The Charter offered us an excellent opportunity to demonstrate this.” 

Already Cottesloe JFC are benefiting from the Charter program. 

“The Charter has already allowed us to access information regarding grants to ensure our girls have equal access to our grounds and clubrooms,” Bucher explained.  

“It provides us with promotional resources for our social media as well as the ability to publicly outline our commitment to girls' football.” 

Cottesloe JFC is committed to developing female players within their club and creating a player pathway for female players to reach their full potential. 

“We have a policy to use female players as our girls’ team coaches,” Bucher said.  

“This allows the girls to have young women as mentors and role models and provides them with aspirational figures for their future.  

“Last year, our Year 5/6 coach was awarded Female Coach of the Year for the Claremont District, which was a huge honour.  

“We currently have three WAFLW women as coaches for our two girls’ teams.  

“They are a huge inspiration to our girls and add a great atmosphere to training and matches.” 

More information about the Women and Girls Community Football Charter can be found here - https://play.afl/clubhelp/women-girls/community-football-charter   

To nominate your club for inclusion in the Charter, click here - https://afl-forms.formstack.com/forms/wagap