Come and try touch footy

TOUCH footy is back, and the Bendigo association is hosting two come and try events to build interest ahead of this season’s competition.

The sport, which borrows some rules and play from rugby league, is non-contact and mixed gender, which according to committee member Madelyn Andrew, means anyone can play.

“Everyone’s welcome,” she said. “Any age bracket, male, female, parents, families. Anyone.

“We are hoping we’ll get enough interest in the under 12 bracket to run a juniors’ competition, it will just be about seeing who comes down on the night.

“It’s a growing club and we hope to get more and more interest each year. We’ve got plenty of senior teams as well as a mix of social and family teams.

“Some people take it seriously, some people not so much, but we’re all there for the right reasons.”

This season, Bendigo Touch Footy is following other associations in ensuring teams consist of three male and three female players on field at any time.

“This is to try and be more inclusive of women in sport,” Ms Andrew said. “We’re just trying to get more women involved and make things even on the playing field.”

In her third year of playing, Ms Andrew said the sport is very easy to pick up as a beginner.

“The refs are really good at teaching on the go, so if you’re a new player either our experienced teams or refs will give you pointers or how-tos, start up with a pretty basic set of rules which will advance as your skills advance,” she said.

“We don’t expect you to come in knowing how to play at 100 per cent and every rule that exists, our refs try ref to your skill level.”

The come and try sessions will be held on Wednesday, 28 September and 5 October from 6pm at the lower fields at Club Court, Strathfieldsaye.