By BVIFA
Photo: BVIFA
The new look Women’s Committee, spearheaded by Sharlene Pond, put the icing on the cake of its plans for a National Nine A side two division league, at a recent meeting, with the introduction of a brand new “Fair Play” award called the CAPS Leadership Award.
“The new initiative will encourage all teams to help the BVIFA lift the profile of girls’ soccer, break down the image that football is for boys and also encourage more and more females to be a part of a disciplined, fun environment designed to encourage empowerment, confidence and create opportunity to ‘Live Your Goals’,” noted Ms. Pond.
The CAPS Award will be presented to the team that incorporates Coaching professionalism, covering conduct, image and organization; Ability, including creativity, technical skills, tactical awareness and fitness; Punctuality; and Sportsmanship, entailing respect, fair play and team spirit.
The league, for the first time, will also have two divisions split across Seniors and U15 Youths.
“To ensure we increase participation and give everyone a chance to play, each of the established teams – Panthers, Ballstars, VG Utd and Avengers, will be responsible for a Junior team as well,”explained Pond.
Coaches will be heading into schools shortly to attract new players, which will form a development structure for the clubs and Pond is also hopeful of attracting the girls who train with the Manatees Club and John Riley.
Each division will offer prize money and individual awards such as MVP, Golden Boots and Golden Gloves. The senior division will also have a semifinals and final, whilst the youth division will be decided purely on a points structure.
Additionally, confirmed Pond, the youth division prize money will only be accessible to the winning clubs by presentation of their commitment plan towards a sustainable development process for the youths.
The Women’s National Nine a Side League kicks off on Saturday 15th October with an Opening Ceremony followed by the Panthers playing the Ballstars at 6.30pm.
On Sunday 16th October, the Junior Avengers will get action underway with a game against the Junior VG United team at 3pm
Games will then take place every Saturday and Sunday inter meshed with the Men’s National League, with the venue for all being the A.O. Shirley Ground.
