A NEW six-week program led by Hockey Ballarat representatives is aiming to draw in more junior girls\u2019 participation for the sport. <\/p>\n
Taking place weekly since Thursday 1 February, the initiative is seeing about 30 girls test their skills as part of a youth development program for female and non-gendered players between 12 and 17 years old.<\/p>\n
Program co-creator and Hockey Ballarat junior subcommittee member Shannon McDonald said the effort has grown out of a need for greater support for young non-male-identifying hockey players. <\/p>\n
\u201cSarah Stapleton and I created the program and we\u2019re both mums of kids who play hockey for different teams,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe took a team of under 13s girls to the Junior Country Championships in Melbourne last year and came second which was massive.<\/p>\n
“It was the first time an under 13s team had competed in about four years.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe realised the girls thrived in a single gender environment. Every girl was given a shot and was able to showcase their skills.<\/p>\n
“Normally they don\u2019t have that option for a male and female competition in Ballarat. <\/p>\n
\u201cThey tend to miss out on vital moments in the game and get less field time so from there we said we needed to do more for our girls in hockey.\u201d<\/p>\n
Run out of Ballarat Grammar, each session has offered an hour-and-a-half of personal and developmental training with volunteer coaching provided by WestVic players. <\/p>\n
Guests so far have included RAD Centre sports dietician Michelle Ryan while next week will feature Discover the Olympian Within founder Deb Covey-Barnett, with the opening portion open to all Hockey Ballarat parents. <\/p>\n
McDonald said she looks forward to seeing the program\u2019s development.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom seeing the success of the program, I know we\u2019ll be able to run it again so I hope to see more participants and there\u2019s the potential for more specialty workshops like around goalkeeping,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n
\u201cNumbers overall are good for hockey in Ballarat but female and non-gender-specific players are less than half. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe hope from this is to see more registered players within the competition and a higher retention for females in hockey.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A NEW six-week program led by Hockey Ballarat representatives is aiming to draw in more junior girls\u2019 participation for the sport. Taking place weekly since Thursday 1 February, the initiative is seeing about 30 girls test their skills as part of a youth development program for female and non-gendered players between 12 and 17 years […]<\/p>\n