The second of three girls only development camps coached by players from the Westfield W-League Central Cost Mariners team commenced at the Harrie Dening Centre, Kareela yesterday.

During the camp over 40 players will experience coaching from three international players from the USA, Jillian Loyden, Kendall Fletcher and Lydia Vandenbergh.

The holiday camps are a great way to meet new friends, learn some new skills and most importantly have fun in a safe environment.

60 girls aged from 10 to 12 years from across NSW came to Sydney Academy of Sport at Narabeen to take part in the Talented Athlete Program conducted by Football NSW in partnership with the Department of Sport and Recreation.

This training camp gave the girls the opportunity to take part in some intensive training sessions supervised by Tim Wilson, Development Program Manager, Football NSW and Football NSW staff and State Team coaches and to also experience life as a full time footballer while also undertaking their school work and meeting new people!

Some of the sessions that were undertaken included passing and receiving, creating and scoring goals, keeping possession and goal setting. Players also took part in game testing in 1v1, 2v2 and 4v4 games.

The girls also took advantage of the state of the art facilities at the centre by being one of the first groups to use the specially designed hot & cold recovery pools.

Players were also able to take part in an organized canoeing activity conducted by the recreation staff at the centre.

At the completion of the camp, all players received copies of their testing results and a report as well as a certificate. The players, although all enjoying the camp experience, were glad to see mum and dad and head home for a well earned rest!

Football NSW would like to congratulate all the players in attendance for not just their footballing ability and efforts, but also their attitude and behavior for the duration of the camp and wish them all the best in their football careers.

Football NSW School Girls Gala Days for 2008

Primary Schools –

The Football NSW 2008 Primary School girl’s gala day was held at Valentine Sports Park on Tuesday 12^th August. Twenty four teams from fourteen different schools competed in round robin competition games in four pools, ranging in ability and experience. For some of these students this was the first time they had experienced the fastest growing women’s sport, and with the excitement of the new Westfield W-League, for many it won’t be the last.

Along with Football NSW staff, aspiring young footballers from Hills Sports High School gave the players some encouragement and guidance while refereeing the games, to ensure the players had a positive experience.

Each player that participated received a certificate, sticker and poster with team prize packs and medals on offer to the winning team of each pool. The winners of each pool were –

Pool A (Novice) – Minchinbury Public School

Pool B (Novice) – Girraween Public School Green

Pool C (Novice) – Emerton Public School

Pool D (Semi Experienced) – Governor Philip King Public School

High Schools –

On Friday the 29^th August at Valentine Sports Park fifteen teams from eight high schools competed in the Football NSW under 16 High School girls gala day. The competition was run on the same lines as the primary schools, with each team playing round robin games in three different pools. In addition to the games each team had the opportunity to win a prize pack for their school in a goal shooting competition.

Each player that participated received a certificate, sticker and poster with team prize packs and medals on offer to the winning team of each pool. The winners of each pool and the goal shooting competition were –

Pool A (Novice) – Pennant Hills High School White

Pool B (Novice) – Beverly Hills High School White

Pool C (Semi Experienced) – Blakehurst High School

Goal Shooting Competition – Pennant Hills High School White

Football NSW wish to congratulate each team on their behaviour and sportsmanship during both gala days. Thank you to all the teachers and parents who made it possible for all the students to participate. I would also like to thank James Rankine (Schools Development Coordinator) for all his hard work in assisting me with the organisation of the gala days. Also thank you to the School Development Officers and the players from Hills Sports High School that ensured the players had a fun and safe experience.

The primary and high school girls gala days are an important part of schools development / female participation and we look forward to the 2009 Football NSW Girls Gala Days.

Hayley Todd; Female Participation Coordinator.