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Football for female players is gaining momentum at Warkworth AFC, with new teams, programmes and coaching initiatives to help more girls start the game and progress through the age groups.
Last season, the club established its first all-girls junior team for ages nine and 10, which won the Rodney District tournament on debut.
Warkworth AFC girls and women’s coordinator Clara Whittington-Pyle said the junior team was an exciting step and marked a really positive shift in creating more dedicated spaces for girls to play, grow and thrive in football.
“It was important because girls-only teams can completely change the experience for young players. It gives girls the chance to develop in an environment designed specifically for them, where leadership, confidence, teamwork and enjoyment can flourish.
“It also helps build strong friendships and a sense of belonging, which is just as important as skill development.”
Whittington-Pyle said the response from the girls’ families had been incredibly positive.
“Parents told us their daughters felt more confident, included, and excited to play in a girls-only environment, which showed on the field.”
Because of that feedback, the club is working to expand girls-only teams with more age groups (8&9, 10&11, 12&13 and 14-plus) to create a clear pathway for female players.
“They can start young, progress through junior and youth levels, and continue into senior football without needing to leave the club. We want girls to know there’s a clear future for them in the game if they want it.”
Whittington-Pyle’s role is about creating opportunities, removing barriers and building strong, supportive pathways at every stage of the players’ football journey.
“Over the past few seasons, we’ve seen a real surge of interest from girls wanting to play. It’s been incredible to watch numbers steadily climb, with more families reaching out, more girls registering, and a real buzz building around female football.
“My main goal this year is to keep growing participation while making sure girls feel confident, capable, and genuinely excited to be part of the game – whether they’re just starting out or already dreaming big.”
The club has introduced several initiatives this season, including appointing a designated girls’ lead coach working across all levels from the Fantails group (ages 5-8) through to the senior teams.
“We’re also running weekly coaching clinics for ages 8-14-plus on Wednesdays starting in April, led by qualified female coaches who are actively playing at a high level. These sessions are designed to build technical skills, confidence and game understanding while giving girls strong role models they can relate to.”
To continue to grow football for female players, Whittington-Pyle said awareness was one of the main challenges.
“Some families simply don’t realise how many opportunities exist for girls.”
Another challenge is resources.
“Access to coaches and fields can also be stretched as numbers rise. But they’re positive challenges, because they reflect how quickly the girls’ game is growing.”
Overall, Whittington-Pyle said girls and women’s football was riding a wave of enthusiasm across NZ following participation at major international tournaments including the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup co-hosted with Australia.
She added that girls’ football was becoming more visible across the community.
“I’d say now is a wonderful time to start. Girls’ football has grown enormously, and with that growth the standard of play has lifted across the board, not just locally, but nationwide.
“If you’re a player wondering whether to give it a go, or a parent thinking about signing your child up, come along and try it, you might be surprised how quickly it feels like you belong.”
