MOOSE JAW — Girls born in 2012-14 playing in the Kinsmen Moose Jaw Minor Football League will have a new option this season, a division of their own.
It’s all part of a long-term plan by minor football to be more inclusive and further grow the sport. In a league that in the last few years has seen major growth from both boys and girls playing football.
“Creating a female division is something I talked about … and (it seems we have) the resources and equipment to properly proceed now,” Bryan Boys MJMFL president said.
“This season we feel our three teams are set now in other divisions and we will see them grow in numbers per team but no new teams will be needed. So this year we felt we could finally focus on trying to add this new female division and feel confident in supporting it.”
The decision to create the female division for girls born between 2012 - 14 (Grades 6 - 8) was due to Regina and Yorkton already having female junior teams.
Additionally, Estevan is also interested in creating a junior team but Boys is hopeful other communities will create a team as well.
“Of course, our hopes are our other league centres in Weyburn and Swift Current will also be able to support a JR team in the future too.”
Girls are free to play in either male or female divisions. Girls playing in male divisions will continue.
Boys said at present the league doesn’t know how many girls are interested in their own division.
“It's only six per side football as of right now so a team doesn't need to be huge; we'd love to have even 18 to 20 girls to start as a squad. And I believe just like we've seen the league grow in our other divisions, our female division would only grow from there,” he said.
Tackle football hasn’t been seen as a traditional female sport but Boys said attitudes are changing and the female game is just starting to bloom in the province.
“You know we have seen female football growing in our province with so many teams already in Saskatchewan. With other centres like Estevan, Moosomin, Melville, Regina, and Saskatoon already having teams in either high school or with JR teams, and of course with the Team Saskatchewan Provincial team and then with the Regina Riot and Saskatoon Valkyries these girls have teams they get to look up to and strive to be a part of in their futures.”
A female division is just part of the universality of football and what it teaches about life, he said.
“Football is a game that anyone can play, big or small there is a place for you on the field and there is no game like football that teaches you more about life … it’s about getting beat up, getting knocked down, winning and losing hard-fought battles, but always picking yourself back up and continuing to move forward.”
Come and try out for free
The league is currently gauging interest.
The league would like prospective players to register their interest and there are no obligations or fees.
To register your interest and to try football for free go to (Kinsmen Minor Football - Lady Outlaw Interest) at https://go.teamsnap.com/forms/386965.
The league pays for all equipment and has access to programs to assist those financially unable to pay fees.
It’s all about getting the kids out.
For those girls unsure about football the league is planning a free football camp on March 3 in Moose Jaw at the Yara Centre that will be led by the Regina Riot and will allow the girls to come out and give football a try.
The league is also looking for new coaches, volunteers and sponsors for the new Lady Outlaws team so if you are interested in helping us build something special for our girls please contact [email protected].
