FC Leopold kicking goals for female inclusiveness

FC Leopold is achieving amazing leaps and bounds with their female inclusiveness.

The club’s under 12 girls’ team recently played a game at GMHBA stadium, while the U9 girls played in the half time game at the WNPL clash between Geelong Galaxy United and Box Hill.

Committee Secretary Lisa de Vries said many of the girls in the under 12 team were first time players to the sport and they were loving it.

“Especially under the guidance of their amazing coaches Matt Koopman and Jason Leibhardt who are dedicated and patient having daughters of their own on the team,” Ms de Vries said.

“They are yet to win a game but are determined and enthusiastic which is a credit to them and everyone involved with the team as it was a lot of work to get the numbers.

“This ambition was driven by the girls themselves who formed three quarters of the team and we as a club helped them get the remainder.”

Ms de Vries said she knew these girls would have an amazing journey this year.

“I have my daughter April on the team as a first time player to the sport who is loving ‘how she is gaining confidence and building friendships while having fun’, as well as my other daughter Issy who plays in the under 9 girls team but helps out occasionally with numbers (as well as some other under 9’s),” she said. “Issy is a third-year player who has often said ‘she’ll keep playing til she’s 80’!”

Ms de Vries said it was great for their confidence to rotate through into the older team and it showed how a little bit of flexibility could make it happen.

“As club secretary and assistant junior coordinator I can attest to the hard work the committee is doing behind the scenes to make sure our policies are female friendly – but that so are our actions,” she said.

“I’m so happy my two girls have found a sport that they are passionate about at a club that values them, and we are certainly trying our best to provide that ethos to the community as a whole.”