Girls Dominate at Maccabi FC Caulfield

The past few years have seen much growth – the rise of TikTok, the increase in crazy weather phenomena, and most importantly, the growth of female participation in soccer. We are so lucky that Jewish girls and women of all ages have a home for soccer in the MFCC (Maccabi Football Club Caulfield).

For those just beginning their football journey, the Gary Peer Little Strikers program is designed to introduce future soccer stars to the game. With a focus on building skills, learning the game, and most of all – having fun! – Little Strikers is a supportive environment for young children of any gender.

With the incredible success and national pride in the Matildas, more young girls than ever are wanting to learn to play like their idols. However, the thought of joining a soccer team for girls who have never played before can seem quite daunting. Enter the Mini Macca-tildas. This free four-week program offered an intro to soccer for girls aged 7-11 who had never played before. 32 girls, under the guidance of the Club’s experienced technical director Michael Kan, were given a basic understanding of the sport and introduced them to some of the skills and drills they would encounter if they joined a team – and the overwhelming majority of them went and did just that, and joined a Maccabi FC Caulfield team for the season!

The ongoing enthusiasm for Little Strikers, coupled with the success of the Macca-tildas has led to a club record-breaking number of female teams this season, with ten teams entering Football Victoria competition this year, in comparison to seven teams in 2023. This includes two under 8s, one under 9s, one under 10s, one under 12s, one under 13s, one under 14s, one under 16s, and the senior teams.

For the senior players, the Queen Bees women’s squad has been around for over a decade. For the first time, the Club is fielding two teams to provide even more opportunities for young Jewish women wanting to try their hand (and their feet!) at soccer.

The growing love of soccer spans all ages, as can be seen through the unparalleled success of the Mummy Bees. Stemming from Football Victoria’s Soccer Mums initiative, the program is designed for women looking to connect through a shared love of soccer. Recommended for players aged 35+, the Soccer Mums program is focused on fitness, fun, and forming friendships. From a handful of mums (and not-mums!) meeting on a Sunday night for a casual kick, there are now two teams playing competitively, as well as a social program. Both offerings provide a much-needed space for women to play soccer each week, and has provided unique opportunities such as getting to play on the field at half-time of a game last year.

Get involved: https://www.mfcc.com.au/