An AFL Womens and Girls Chartered Club is a community football organization officially recognized by the AFL for its excellence in supporting female participation. This status confirms our club provides a safe, inclusive, and high-quality environment where women and girls can thrive as players, coaches, umpires, and leaders in our community.

What is an AFL Womens and Girls Chartered Club?

The AFL Womens and Girls Chartered Club program is a national initiative designed to ensure that community clubs are meeting specific standards of excellence. It isn’t just about having a girls' team; it’s about creating a culture where every female member feels valued and supported. To be recognized, a club must demonstrate a clear commitment to growth and inclusion across several key areas of the sport.

Being a chartered club means we have met rigorous criteria set by the AFL. These standards focus on player safety, coaching quality, and administrative support tailored specifically for female participants. This recognition serves as a hallmark of quality for families in Lane Cove, Hunters Hill, and Ryde who are looking for the best possible sporting environment for their daughters.

Our club has worked tirelessly to build a pathway that allows a young girl to start in Auskick and progress all the way through to senior levels. This charter is a celebration of that journey and a promise that we will continue to elevate the standards of female football in our local area. We are incredibly proud to wear this badge of honor as we continue to grow the game we love.

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Why did we achieve this AFL recognition?

Achieving the status of an AFL Womens and Girls Chartered Club didn't happen overnight. It is the result of years of dedication from our volunteers, parents, and players. Here are some of the primary reasons we were selected:

• Inclusive Environments: We have created a welcoming atmosphere where girls feel confident to play and compete.
• Dedicated Pathways: We offer clear transitions from Junior Football to Youth Football .
• Community Engagement: We actively promote female football within Lane Cove, Hunters Hill, and Ryde.
• Leadership Opportunities: We encourage women to take on roles in our Committee and leadership groups.

This recognition validates our belief that female football is not just a secondary program but a core pillar of our club’s identity. We have seen a massive surge in interest over the last few years, and this charter ensures we have the framework to support that growth sustainably. Our focus remains on the joy of the game and the development of strong, confident young women.

Benefits of Our New Chartered Status

Being an official AFL Womens and Girls Chartered Club brings a wealth of benefits to our members. This status isn't just a title; it unlocks resources and support that directly impact our players on the field. When you join a chartered club, you are joining a network that is backed by the AFL’s highest standards of community sport.

One of the primary benefits is access to specialized training and development programs. Our players get to participate in clinics and events that are specifically designed for the female game. Additionally, our Coaches receive extra training on how to best support the physical and emotional development of female athletes. This ensures that every training session is productive, safe, and, most importantly, fun!

Furthermore, this status helps us attract more sponsors and community support. Local businesses in Ryde and Hunters Hill are often eager to support programs that are officially recognized for their excellence in diversity and inclusion. This additional support allows us to keep registration fees competitive and invest in better equipment and facilities for all our teams. It’s a win-win for everyone involved in our community.

How do we support girls in junior football?

Supporting girls in Junior Football involves more than just putting a ball in their hands. It requires a holistic approach to development that considers the unique needs of young female athletes. At our club, we focus on skill acquisition, team bonding, and building resilience. We want every girl who walks onto our field to feel like she belongs there.

We provide age-appropriate training that scales with the players' abilities. For the youngest players, we focus on the fundamentals of the game through Auskick . As they grow, we introduce more tactical elements of play. Our goal is to ensure that the transition between age groups is seamless, so players remain engaged with the sport throughout their teenage years and into adulthood. Here is how we make it happen:

Developing Female Leadership and Coaching

Part of being an AFL Womens and Girls Chartered Club is ensuring that women are represented in every facet of the club, not just as players. We are committed to developing the next generation of female Coaches and Umpires . Having female role models in these positions is crucial for our young players to see what is possible within the sport.

We provide pathways for parents and  players to get their coaching accreditation. By supporting women in coaching roles, we bring diverse perspectives to our training programs and create a more balanced club culture. We also encourage our female members to join the Committee to help shape the future direction of the club. Their insights are invaluable in ensuring we remain a leader in community sports.

Our Umpires program is another area where we are seeing fantastic growth. Umpiring is a great way for girls to stay involved in the game, develop leadership skills, and even earn some pocket money! We provide full training and support for anyone interested in taking up the whistle. By fostering a culture of respect for officials, we make sure that our female umpires feel safe and empowered on match days.

Where can families join the fun?

If you are living in Lane Cove, Hunters Hill, or Ryde, and you have a daughter interested in AFL, there has never been a better time to join! As an AFL Womens and Girls Chartered Club , we are ready to welcome new players of all skill levels. Whether she is a complete beginner or a seasoned pro, we have a place for her in our community.

Registration is easy and can be done directly through our website. We recommend starting with our Auskick program for the little ones or checking out our Junior Football teams for older kids. If you have questions about which age group is right for your child, or if you want to know more about our training schedule, please feel free to Contact us anytime.

We also participate in AFL 9s , which is a fantastic, non-contact version of the game perfect for women looking for a social and active way to stay fit. It’s a great way for mums to get involved and see why their kids love the sport so much! Whatever your age or ability, we invite you to come down to the club and see what makes us so special.

Future Goals for Women in Sport

Our journey doesn't stop here. While we are incredibly proud of being an AFL Womens and Girls Chartered Club , we view this as a foundation rather than a finish line. Our goal is to continue growing our female player base until we have full multiple teams across every single age group.

We are planning more community outreach programs, school visits, and holiday clinics to introduce more girls to the sport. We are also looking at ways to improve our facilities even further.