Women's Sport

5th IWG World Conference on Women and Sport

The 5th IWG World Conference on Women and Sport
Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre, May 20-23

With less than four months to go before the 5th IWG World Conference on Women and Sport, the IWG is thrilled to announce that registrations to date represent delegates from over 45 different countries.

Ms. Rachel Mayanja, Assistant Secretary-General, United Nations and Special Advisor on Gender Issues and the Advancement of Women, has accepted our invitation to present a keynote address at the Conference.  Her presence will highlight the progress we have made over the past three years in connecting the women’s sport movement with relevant divisions of the United Nations.

The IWG is also pleased to confirm that Patron-in-Chief of the Conference, The Honourable Quentin Bryce, Governor General will speak at the Opening Ceremony on Thursday 20th May.

In addition, we have secured a great line-up of high profile national speakers from government and industry including:

• Elizabeth Broderick, Sex Discrimination Commissioner, Australian Human Rights Commission
• Peter Holmes à Court, Chairman of White Bull Holdings, Co-owner (with Russell Crowe) of the South Sydney Rabbitohs
• Moya Dodd, Board member Football Federation Australia and  Vice-President Asian Football Confederation
• The Hon Kate Ellis, Federal Minister for Sport
• Justin Holdforth, Head of ABC TV Sport and Events
• The Hon Michael Kirby, former Justice of the High Court of Australia
• Kate Palmer, CEO Netball Australia

The Conference Ambassador Programme was launched recently and is spear-headed by the legendary Cathy Freeman who will attend the Opening Ceremony and several other fine female athletes from a wide range of sports. 
The event kicks off on Thursday 20 May with an Opening Ceremony featuring an all-female indigenous performance and a keynote address by Ms. Rachel Mayanja and the Governor General.
The International Working Group on Women and Sport (IWG) is an independent coordinating body consisting of representatives of key government and non-government organisations. It aims to be a catalyst for the advancement and empowerment of women and sport globally.

For further information and to register for the conference please visit: www.iwg-gti.org

You Kick Like a Girl

AFL Victoria offers a range of opportunities to women and girls wishing to be involved in Australian Football. Since the appointment of a Female Football Development Manager, whose role is to develop female programs and implement female participation pathways, there has been a significant increase in the involvement of females at all levels. Female participation is flourishing and there are special reasons for this.

In addition to having fun and nurturing a love of playing sport, participation benefits identified by girls in an independent study conducted by Deakin University included improved fitness and weight management, increased physical skills, self confidence, mental strength and making new friends.

Visit http://www.aflvic.com.au/index.php?id=142 for more information

Cricket Victoria's Female Programs

JUNIOR GIRLS CRICKET PROGRAMS

There are many opportunities for girls to participate in cricket through school competitions, Milo Have-A-Go, Under 10 mixed cricket, Under 14s girls or Under 17 girls. There are also junior representative teams at an Under 13, Under 15, Under 17 and Under 19 level for girls to aspire to.

CRIC HIT

Cric Hit is a primary schools base cricket program for girls only! Already into its 3rd year the program offers girls an 8 week program that teaches them the skills of the game as well as providing an interschool competition.

WOMEN'S CLUB CRICKET

There are currently 43 clubs registered with the Victorian Women's Cricket Association (VWCA). There are 5 (five) grades of competition - (from lowest to highest) C, B, A, District 2nds and District 1sts. There are teams all across metropolitan and regional Victoria, from Mornington to Gisborne and Pakenham to Ballarat.

COMMONWEALTH BANK PATHWAY

Established in 1999, the Commonwealth Bank Cricket Pathway consists of a series of programs & competitions for talented cricketers starting at U13 & moving through to senior cricket. It allows players, parents, coaches & administrators to understand the road from junior cricket to representing Australia.

WOMEN'S COUNTRY CUP

The Women's Country Cup allows players from Victoria's 8 country regions (Western Waves, Mallee Murray Heat, Northern Rivers, Gippsland Pride, SE Country Sharks, Barwon Rockets, NE Knights and Central Highlands) to compete for the title of the best country region in the state.

To find out more about any of these programs visit http://www.cricketvictoria.com.au/page/female.html

WGV Regional Development Program

To successfully meet PICSAR objectives, WGV will deliver a golf participation program in regional and rural Victoria over the four years commencing 1 July 2007.

The target group for this project fits into the 'other' category, as it targets women living in regional and rural Victoria who typically suffer poorer health due to gender inequalities. WGV's Regional Development Program will be delivered in communities that have lower socio-economic status, in order to fulfil PICSAR requirements.

WGV's Regional Development Program aims to improve the social, health and wellbeing of women living in regional and rural Victorian communities via increased physical activity through golf. In society, women are often discriminated against because of 'gender inequity'. People living in regional and rural Victorian communities often experience health inequalities due to their area of residence and associated lower average incomes. WGV's overarching goal is to increase the number of females playing golf for health gain (social, physical and mental) who live in regional and rural Victorian communities.

Women living in target communities will be encouraged to: Increase their physical activity by trying golf for the first time for health gain Be welcomed into golf clubs to share and experience the sense of belonging associated with being a golf club member, or social golfer Take on leadership roles within their golfing community (e.g. mentor roles, committee positions, coaching accreditation).

Traditionally, golf is a male dominated sport where women who participate in the game receive unequal playing rights and opportunities, and have little or no representation within a golf club's formal decision making and leadership structure. With both strategic input and community links with partners, this program aims to address some of the health inequalities experienced by women living in regional and rural Victorian communities, particularly in relation to golf participation.

Clubs interested in taking part in this program should contact Louise MacDonald, Golf Manager on 03 9523 8511 or louise@womensgolf.org.au or visit http://www.womensgolf.org.au/guests/givegolfago/regionaldev.mhtml

Girls & Women Clinics

Women's Advanced Development Track Series - April 2008

The CSV Women's Committee has announced a Women's Advanced Track Series aimed at increasing women's track cycling skills, with the program focusing on Endurance and Sprint areas. The series runs on Sundays from April 6, 13, 20, 27 at the Darebin International Sports Centre Velodrome. Positions are application based and all interested cyclists need to complete the following form and return it via email to luke.mason@cycling.org.au

Women's Development Series 07/08 - Coffee Crits

The Coffee Crit series aims at female cyclists with little or no experience in criterium racing is a great way to learn skills and techniques from an accredited mentor and coach who will ride alongside participants during the event. There will be no places, prizes or rankings awarded, so it will be safe and enjoyable for all involved and after the event, a chat and an event debrief will be conducted over a nice cup of FREE coffee.

For more information on the Coffee Crit Series please contact Luke Mason CSV Development Manager. luke.mason@cycling.org.au

AFL VICTORIA SEEKING YOUTH GIRLS TEAMS FOR 2009

AFL Victoria is now seeking expressions of interest for new clubs to join the ever growing Youth Girls competition in 2009.

Program Overview
The Youth Girls competition is all about fun, fitness, friendship through football in a family friendly environment. The Youth Girls competition is a community football competition specifically designed to promote a female football friendly environment for girls aged between 13 and 18 years. Run at central venues around Melbourne and beyond, the competition continues to expand to provide more playing opportunities for girls under the age of 18.

The competition is managed by AFL Victoria and is supported by local councils, the AFL, VicHealth and the Department of Sport and Recreation Victoria.  It gives girls the opportunity to play in a real football competition with an emphasis on fun, friendship and fitness. It welcomes teams and players from government and non government schools, football clubs and leagues and all girls wishing to have a go at footy in their very own competition.

CLUB INFORMATION GUIDE
The program comprises the following elements:

• A structured competition – a weekly competition played over 14 weeks from April to August (including finals)
• A fun atmosphere – the emphasis of Youth Girls is on fun, friendship and fitness to develop football skills
• Flexibility – no prior experience is needed, many participants did not participate in either AusKick or junior club football
• Convenient – All games are played at a central venue decreasing the amount of travel for families
  Coaching – each YG team is required to have at least one coach who is accredited at a minimum Level 1
• Membership – each player is a member of their club and AFL Victoria
  Cost – The cost of the club membership will be determined by the individual club, lasting for the season and includes insurance (payable at the beginning of the season)

Benefits of Youth Girls for football clubs

• Retain junior girls and their families for longer (4 years)
• Increased membership
• Increased volunteer base
• Greater diversity in membership
• Inclusive club environment
• Assists in funding applications (government and private)

Benefits for players and their families

• Fun
• Fitness
• Friendship
• Ongoing participation from Auskick to Seniors
• Continuing to participate in sport
• Opportunity to play in team sport
• Opportunity to represent club, league and state
• Join the Youth Girls Academy
• Improved relationship between daughters and fathers (Deakin University, 2004)
• Family bonding

For more information on the Youth Girls program, and on how to establish your team, download AFL Victoria's 'Club Information Guide' below or contact: Chyloe Kurdas, Female Football Development Manager, AFL Victoria
b: 03 8663 3042
m: 0418 572 902
e: chyloe.kurdas@aflvic.com.au