By: Richard Millot

​

Cricketing girls from across the Association will be the winners as part of a new strategy for FTGDCA Girls teams in Season 2017/18. FTGDCA teams will take part in the Ringwood & District Cricket Association Girls Cricket League, with matches held on Sunday mornings across the season. With girls continuing to play for their clubs in FTGDCA competitions on Friday and Saturdays, the addition of playing Sunday girls cricket provides players with a fantastic opportunity to maximise their participation in the game.

​

FTGDCA Girls Coordinator Emily Moss says that the establishment of combined FTGDCA teams to play amongst clubs within the RDCA Girls competitions will provide the foundation for continued growth in female cricket within the local area.

​

"The Ringwood & District Cricket Association has in only 6 short seasons successfully built 3 tiers of women's competitions. The Premier side is the pathway to WBBL and Australian cricket for those inspired to play at the elite level, Junior cricket for U18's wanting to play in a highly organised and Professional grade and Community grades for those new to the game and/or wanting to play the sport socially”, says Moss.

​

“With this unique opportunity to participate in an established and successful girls league, we as an Association are excited at the prospect that we can potentially have girls from our local clubs participating across all 3 pathways in women’s cricket at a time when it is growing at an amazing rate."

​

Women’s cricket continues it’s rapid increase in participation and popularity. Figures released last week in Cricket Australia’s National Cricket Census results reveal that just under 400,000 girls and women participate in cricket programs nationally amongst club and school programs, making up for 27.5% of total participants and representing a 25% increase from 2015/16 results alone. In Victoria, just under 7,500 women and girls played club-level cricket last season – a 79% increase from 2015/16 - making Victoria the place to be for increasing opportunities in female cricket.

​

Success amongst female cricket on a national and international stage, notably the success of the Rebel Women’s Big Bash League and the recent Semi Finalist campaign of Australia’s Women’s Cricket Team at the 2017 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in England, show that opportunities at the highest levels exist, with Moss emphasising that the pathway for women cricketers begins locally and has no limits to what can be achieved and enjoyed in the sport.

​

"Our focus for now is to field a team, hopefully more, amongst the RDCA this coming season but if we can inspire at least 12 girls this season I would be extremely happy and we can keep building and continuing to grow. These foundations do not spring up overnight and require passionate young women to want to be a part of something new and exciting. 

​

“The long-term goal is to develop our own local competition.  If one girl plays and asks a friend to join her, we have the beginnings right there amongst our clubs and Association. The support from the FTGDCA is strong and loud and with a continued focus on the establishment and growth of local girls cricket, we together will achieve great things and set the pathway for generations of girls and women to continue to enjoy cricket in the area".

​

Expressions of Interest are currently being sought for girls interested in participating in FTGDCA Teams in Season 2017/18. To register interest, please contact Emily Moss at emoss3@bigpond.com or on 0402 854 280.