Of all the sports I (attempt to) play, touch football is the only one I do on a weekly basis.
It’s high-intensity, so it’s an incredibly good workout. It’s competitive without being completely over-the-top. And there’s often a sausage sizzle held at someone’s house after the game… sausage sizzles are my life.
What I love most about touch is seeing the variety of people that also play. It’s everyone from five-year-old kids to 65-year-old women – sometimes even in the same team. It’s official, organised games as part of competitions, or it’s casual Sunday run-arounds in the park.
Also? I love the fact that we have some AMAZING touch footy teams currently competing on national and international levels. Teams that are filled with women who all work or study full-time, but are passionate enough about touch to pay their own way through training and games.
All of these women are between the ages of 17 and 32 – and yes, they use their own hard-earned cash to get themselves to different events, even on a global level. The team includes Emilee Cherry and Charlotte Caslick, who were part of the Australian Women’s Sevens team that played in the 2013 Rugby World Cup in Moscow earlier in the year; four other players were also part of the Jillaroos Rugby League World Cup win just a couple of months ago.
And the team is kicking some incredible goals (not literally – you don’t kick goals in touch footy). As a team, they’ve won seven – count em – SEVEN consecutive World Cup events since the inception of the event in 1988. So – 1988, 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011.
There’s normally about 30 countries participating in these world cup events – so it’s not exactly a small achievement.
They’ve also won every Trans Tasman series (against New Zealand) since the event started in 1986, and have only lost two Trans Tasman matches in 27 years.
Most recently, they won the 2011 World Cup in Scotland (5-3), the 2012 Trans Tasman Series in Mudgee (two games to one) and the 2013 Trans Tasman Series in Auckland (three games to nil).
And upcoming? They’ll be competing in the 2014 Trans Tasman Series in Mudgee, NSW (April 25 to April 27 2014) and the 2015 World Cup.
I was amazed when I heard about the achievements of the women’s team. And I was dismayed when I realised that:
– They get zero funding, so have to pay their own way to everything, and;
– I haven’t ever heard of them before – because they get barely any coverage out there.
But this isn’t just a post to brag about the achievements of our AMAZING national footy team, and to bring your attention to them. It’s also a post for all the NSW touch footy fans out there who had no idea there was even a women’s league – and who would be keen to go along and see a seriously amazing game of touch between two women’s teams.
The teams are made up of some really young players, who have progressed in absolute leaps and bounds to make it to the grand final. It’s the first time the Eagles have made the final, which is pretty damn exciting – and the Roosters are going for back-to-back titles.
If you’re interested in heading along, the game is at 3:20pm at the Canterbury Velodrome.
And if you’re interested in supporting touch footy? Get your girls playing. At any level, at any field, in any competition. They’ll love it – promise.
In other sporting news…
The Australian Women’s Rugby team has announced their World Cup line up and has included Sydney Women’s captain and veteran of the game, Tui Ormsby. Ormsby is the most experienced Wallaroo in history and made her debut in 1997.
Fellow veteran of the game, Rebecca Smyth has also been included in the squad, which will be her third world cup. The Head Coach of the Wallaroos said that the new squad included a healthy mix of youth and experience. Rugby World Cup Limited Chairman, Bernard Lapasset said: “These are exciting times for women’s rugby and the Women’s Rugby World Cup is the premier event in the women’s game, providing the platform for growing the sport across the world.”
The Hockeyroos squad for the Oceania Cup in New Zealand has been announced, with two youngsters from the National Junior Squad being named in the side. Brooke Peris and Mathilda Carmichael are set to take part in their first international tour with the Hockeyroos. Both girls were part of the Jilaroos side that competed in the Junior World Cup in Germany in August. Congrats, girls!
Matildas forward Kyah Simon has sadly been ruled out of competition for the next 12 months. Simon tore her Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) during the second half on Monday nights internal against the USA in San Antonio. Simons is focused on her recovery but said the setback is disappointing. “Every athlete has their setbacks, this one has been an unlucky one for me. My main focus for the next 12 months is my rehab.” The Matildas sadly lost the game against the USA, 4-0.
Have you seen anything in women’s sport that you want to talk about?
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Top Comments
Hi if you want to read about what went down at these Grand Finals have a look at my website, www.iamafred.co There are half a dozen posts on it.
Really? Women's touch football? There's something missing here, can't quite put my finger on it. Oh wait, they're not in lingerie, are you sure this is legit? God that whole scene sh*ts me to tears.
I was actually thinking about joining a touch football team, it looks like terrific fun.
If you like the idea of touch, look into OzTag in your area. I find it much more inclusive than touch as pure speed is not necessarily the most important element.
I'm a rugby player, and I love tag in the off season. As a slower player I can still contribute a huge a amount to my tag team as you can pivot, wiggle your hips and evade people tagging you, whereas in touch I can run a perfect line but the gap will be well and truly closed by the time i hit it :) plus you don't get the "phantom" touches where the opposition will claim they just grazed your shirt/shorts etc.
on the other hand, touch seems to be a lot more common so depends on your area, it's still fun, I don't mind playing occasionally, but would really recommend giving OzTag a go too.
If you like the idea of touch, look into OzTag in your area. I find it much more inclusive than touch as pure speed is not necessarily the most important element.
I'm a rugby player, and I love tag in the off season. As a slower player I can still contribute a huge a amount to my tag team as you can pivot, wiggle your hips and evade people tagging you, whereas in touch I can run a perfect line but the gap will be well and truly closed by the time i hit it :) plus you don't get the "phantom" touches where the opposition will claim they just grazed your shirt/shorts etc.
on the other hand, touch seems to be a lot more common so depends on your area, it's still fun, I don't mind playing occasionally, but would really recommend giving OzTag a go too.