Northern NSW Football is delighted to announce its first program for talented Para Football athletes.
The Para Football Program is aligned with NNSWF’s strategic pillar of Enjoyable Football Experience with priority to minimise barriers to ensure an accessible and inclusive football environment.
The program is aimed at players aged eight years and older living with cerebral palsy, an acquired brain injury or symptoms from stroke and will consist of fortnightly training sessions at Lake Macquarie Regional Football Facility starting in term four.
NNSWF will host identification days for male and female para-athletes aged eight years and older. Find out more information about the identification days HERE.
The five-week Para Football Program has a fee of $50 which includes a NNSWF shirt.
As part of NNSWF’s commitment to developing a Para Football program, three Come and Try Days have run in 2025 with two at LMRFF and one in Coffs Harbour.
The program will focus on developing a pathway alongside Football Australia that aligns with the ParaMatildas and ParaRoos.
NNSWF recently hosted the ParaMatildas training camp at LMRFF to allow participants from the Come and Try Days to train alongside the national team, further demonstrating NNSWF’s commitment to showcasing para football.
Local para-athletes have continued to showcase their skills at recent events and parent Jacqueline Webster was grateful for the continuous opportunities for her child.
“Thank you for such a wonderful opportunity for our little ones to try something new and be exposed to the world of Para Football,” Webster said.
“At the most recent session, [my daughter] Georgia was lucky enough to be introduced to ParaMatilda Georgia Beikoff and hasn’t stopped asking when we can go back to play.
“This level of representation is so hard for us to find for our Georgia and to meet and see players with similar ability to herself as adults was really exciting for her.”
NNSWF’s National Para Football Championships coach Matt Bass was thrilled about the upcoming Para Football Program.
“Northern NSW Football has a chance to champion Para Football by providing a program that is one of the best nationwide and worldwide,” Bass said.
“So many great footballers come from this area and being part of this process of fostering and assisting local talent to represent our region at the highest level is a privilege and an honour.”
If you are interested in registering for the identification day, register HERE.
If you are interested in being involved in Para Football in a coaching or refereeing capacity, register your interest HERE.
