Female Football Kicks Off In Moose Jaw

By Robert Thomas

Girls born in 2012 - 2014 playing in 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 doing when I was voted in as President, and we've discussed doing it as a board the last few seasons but with the steady growth in our other divisions we weren't comfortable or confident that we'd have the resources and equipment to properly proceed until now,” Bryan Boys MJMFL president told MJ Independent.

“In Football we provide all of their equipment, plus we have been growing in size and added a new team in U12 and U14 over the last two seasons so we just didn't feel we had the resources and or the coaches to try and grow too fast,” Boys said.

“This season we feel our three teams are set now in those 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 - 2014 (Grades 6 - 8) was due to Regina and Yorkton already having Female JR teams.

Additionally Estevan is also interested in creating a JR team.

But Boys is hopeful other communities will create a team as well.

“,,,of course our hopes are our other league centers in Weyburn and Swift Current will also also be able to support a JR team in the future to,” he said.

Girls are free to play in either male or female divisions. Girls playing in male divisions will continue.

At the present time many girls play on a male team in the league.

Boys said at the present time the league doesn’t know how many girls are interested in their own division.

“We honestly don't have any expectations on numbers. But our hopes are will get to fill at least one team for this season and build off of it from there.”

Hopes are for the girls division to grow in a way the entire league has.

“It's only 6 per side football as of right now so a team doesn't need to be huge, we'd love to have even 18 - 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.

Asked about how tackle football is not seen as a traditional female sport 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, 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.”

Action from the 2024 season - MJ Independent file photo

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

At the present time the league is guaging the interest there is in the community.

The league would like prospective players to register their interest and there is no obligation nor fees.

To register your interest and come out and try football for free just click the link.

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 our league is planning a free football camp on March 3rd in Moose Jaw at the Yara centre that will be lead 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 our new Lady Outlaws team so if you are interested in helping us build something special for our girls please contact us at coachboys44@yahoo.ca