Women's Australian rules football
Women's Australian rules football (also known as Women's
Aussie Rules, Women's footy) is a fast growing
sport played in
Australia,
United States,
Papua New Guinea and
Japan.
The game has modified rules for
women from the 's game, and although less physical than women's
American Football or women's
rugby league or
rugby union it is more physical than
football (soccer) and a fast flowing game involving both hand and foot co-ordination for players of all shapes and sizes.
Some competitions, but not all, are played with modified rules.
The main rule differences in Women's Footy as opposed to Australian rules football involves modified tackling rules. Typically holding or slinging the player in a tackle is not allowed but subtle pressure is.
Another main difference is the size of the ball. A smaller ball to the men's version is often used to minimise hand injuries.
Australia
In Australia, the main women's competitions are the
Victorian Women's Football League (in which
Melbourne University is the dominant side) and the
Sydney Women's AFL. Football is
not played with modified tackling rules; the same rules as men's football apply. The only differences to the men's game are shorter quarters and a slightly smaller ball is used.
Debbie Lee is arguably the highest profile women's footballer in the country.
Championship Events
Women's Football Australia are responsible for the annual Australian National Women's Championships.In 2005, two teams from
Victoria, a senior and an under-19s side and teams from the
ACT,
Northern Territory,
New South Wales,
South Australia,
Western Australia and
Queensland participated. Victoria has won the past 13 championships. In 2006, VIC Seniors 18. 7 (125) def Western Australia 2 .1 (13).
The armed forces in Australia are also involved in women's footy. Women's teams have competed in the Australian Services Australian Football Association Carnival, which is also run annually.In 2004 the first women's
Army Kangaroos team competed at the interservice level and won the championship defeating both the
Air force and
Navy teams.
=All-Australian Team 2006
=VIC Seniors: Michelle Dench (Melb Uni), Shannon McFerran (St Albans), Meg Hutchins (Deakin), Lauren Tesorilero (Yarra Valley), Janine Milne (Darebin).VIC U19's: Daisy Pearce (Darebin), Karen Paxman (Hadfield), Penny Cula-Reid (St Kilda), Moana Hope (Darebin), Lauren Arnell (Darebin).ACT: Kirsten Ireland (RiverinaADF: Emma Hender (Eastlake)NSW: Talei Owen (UNSW/Easts)NT: Michaeline Brown (St Mary's)QLD: Katherine Pender (Centrals); Aastra O'Connor (Logan); Jo Butland (North Cairns)SA: Michele Reid (Greenacres)WA: Nikki Harwood (Melville Dockers), Krystle Rivers (Coastal Titans), Louise Knitter (The Hawks), Jodie White (Coastal Titans).
United States of America
Leigh Swansborough of California began the USA women's league, organising teams to play in the inaugural women's match in the US. The Orange County Bombshells and an all comers team played in Kansas City in October 2003. The Bombshells ran out winners by 44 points.
There are now almost 15 women's teams across the United States.
USA's women's footy can be found at: http://womensfooty.com/
Current women's teams are: Arizona Lady Hawks (Phoenix/Tempe area), Orange County Bombshells, Minnesota Morrigans, Valley Vandolls, Sacramento, Baltimore-Washington, New York-New Jersey, Ontario Ravens, Milwaukee Bombers, Portland Power, North Carolina Lady Tigers, Seattle, Florida, Atlanta Kookaburras
Championship Events
The
USAFL National Championships incorporated a Women's Division for the first time in 2005.The Atlanta Lady Kookaburras won the inaugural Women's Division.
Papua New Guinea
In 2006, AFL-Papua New Guinea announced their first women's team (Under 16s) to take part in the Australian national women's tournament.
Japan
In Japan, Australian rules football is played in many universities.Women's footy is played by the
Tokyo Geckos and
Osaka Bilbies. As yet, there are no national championships in Japan for Australian rules playing women.
In Australia, a total of 18,609 girls and women played Australian rules football in 2005, and it is one of the fastest growing sports among women in the country. [
1]
Games of International Rules are also played by many women's leagues against Gaelic Athletic Association clubs.
Recreational Football, a fully non-contact version of Australian rules football is also becoming popular amongst women in Australia and the United States.
*
List of Australian rules football women's leagues*
Rec Footy*
Australian rules football*
Metro Footy*
Women's sports*
Intro to Women's AFL*
Article on women's footy in the ACT*
Women in a league of their own*
Article on women's football in North Queensland
