Kids get chance to try touch footy

TOUCH football prides itself on being a sport for people aged five to seventy-five, and this weekend it’s all about the juniors at Epsom Huntly Recreation Reserve.

On Saturday, representative coaches will run skills sessions and teams from across the state will compete in a knock-out competition on Sunday.

State manager for Touch Football Victoria, Jeff Quick, said the organisation is trying to promote younger participation in regional areas.

“Traditionally junior participation has been very city based and around schools’ engagement, we’re pushing to engage more at a club associate level, assisting with the burden of schools,” he said.

“Our junior participation in regional areas like Bendigo is a high priority, it’s certainly something we spend a lot of time and effort considering how to best go about it and how best to coordinate and engage with kids in regional areas.”

Mr Quick said there are over 700,000 social participants playing touch football across Australia, and male and female players are spread evenly.

“Our participation numbers in touch football are as close to 50/50 as you’d ever see,” he said. “

“While other sports are driving towards more female participation, it’s always been a focus of ours. We’re one of the very few sports that has mixed participation as standard competitions.”

“One of the great things about touch footy is we have teams made up of entire family units, so grandma, grandad, mum, dad, and the kids can all play in the same team on a Thursday night just for fun and fitness.”

Teams from Melbourne, Ballarat, Shepparton and other regional areas are expected to take part in the weekend.

Last summer, the Bendigo touch football association held a junior competition for the first time.