Wee Waa named a Kick-On For Women hub in 2020

Wee Waa has joined a growing list of towns which will host the popular ‘Kick-On For Women’ female soccer program in 2020.

Introduced by Northern NSW Football last year, Kick-On for Women is an introductory program to soccer designed specifically for women to fit into their busy lives while juggling their commitments of family, work and friends.

The idea was born from the demand for mothers, sisters and female spectators wanting to be involved in the sport, however desired a format that welcomed their inexperience, less active lifestyle and limited time availability.

With a commitment of just 45-minutes a week, after general office hours, the program has a strong focus on fun, inclusion and friendship, is run by accredited facilitators and provides participants the opportunity to spend time focusing on their own fitness and well-being in a judgement-free environment.

Kick-On For Women is aimed at females aged 16-years-and-over, who are non-active or less active, who are time-poor, and who are new to soccer or simply seeking a social fitness environment.

The program works in eight-week terms where 45-minute sessions are held once a week which include 20 minutes of fun, skill-based activities and 20 minutes of small-sided games.

Kick-On For Women project officer Michelle Forbes said the first program was a great success, bringing women of all walks of life together.

“Many of the participants turn up to the first session, a bit shy and unsure, but 45-minutes later they’re laughing with new friends and have clocked up some steps,” Forbes said.

“The reasons for joining the program are so varied, some chose the program to take time out of their busy work and family schedules just for themselves, some do it to make friends and others simply to get outside and undertake some fitness,” she added.

Wee Waa has become the eighth Kick-On For Women centre in the Northern Inland zone, joining Narrabri, Gunnedah, Moree, Coonabarabran, Tamworth, Inverell and Armidale.

Sessions will be held on Monday nights, at Dangar Park in terms one and four, and at Cook Oval in terms two and three.

Wee Waa United FC vice-president, secretary and player Monique Soutter has played a significant role in promoting women’s soccer in the region and was the driving force behind the women-friendly games that were played as curtain-raisers before Namoi Soccer League fixtures in both Narrabri and Moree last year.

Soutter told The Courier that after being unsuccessful in bringing the program to Wee Waa when it launched in October last year, she was pleased that the favourable decision was made this time around.

“Last year during one of our women-friendly games in Moree I spoke to Michelle Forbes and she approached me and asked would I be interested in this program,” she said.

“I said ‘fantastic, that would be wonderful’ and I put in the request but unfortunately last year we didn’t get the funding.

“We re-applied and spoke about the fact that even though we are a small town we have a lot of females that would benefit from it and about a month ago I got a call to say the funding had been approved and that it was going ahead.

“The biggest benefit for our community will be the social aspect, I’ve already been approached by so many mothers that don’t get to get out or they are the ones that take their children to soccer or whatever sport they play and don’t actually play anything themselves.

“We’ve purposely made it after dinner time so working mothers like myself have time to come home and get the family sorted and then come out and take some time out for themselves.

“We also have teenagers who don’t feel comfortable playing in the senior competition, this will allow them to still play.”

Soutter is the co-ordinator and facilitator of Wee Waa’s Kick-On For Women and will lead the sessions each Monday evening.

“[Northern NSW Football] sends a full program which is great,” she said.

“I have completed some coaching courses for this as well and I’ve had a lot to do with soccer the past 17 years that I’ve been with my husband Shane so I’m fairly familiar already.

“They send me the program and I implement it and adjust it each week according to the group of women.”

Last week Soutter said that she had received about 20 messages of interest so far, and stressed that Kick-On For Women would provide a fun and friendly environment.

“It’s not an actual competition,” she said.

“We’ll do 20 minutes of basic introductory to soccer skills then 20 minutes of a friendly game.

“Numbers will depend how many are in each team but it’s definitely not a competition, it’s all about encouraging women to get out and get a bit more active.

“You don’t have to be fit or an elite athlete, it’s aimed at beginners and it’s a relaxed, casual atmosphere.

“If you’ve ever seen me play you’ll know that I am definitely all about having fun.

“This is not something that is supposed to be serious it’s all about meeting new people and getting physically active which is so important this day and age.

“There’s a lot of sport in our area aimed at males, so this allows the females in our region an outlet as well, it has such a positive impact on your physical and mental health.”

Term one for Kick-On For Women in Wee Waa will begin on Monday, February 10.